Processes of Precarious Living Conditions: Young Men of Ethnic Minority Background Growing up in Socially Deprived Housing Areas in the Danish Welfare State

Abstract

This chapter focuses on young men of ethnic minority background, especially young men with refugee and migrant background from the so-called non-Western countries, who grow up and live their childhood and youth in socially deprived housing areas in Denmark. The chapter is based on a research project, which has followed children and young people as well as pedagogues in leisure and youth clubs located in three different socially deprived housing areas. In this context, a particular preoccupation has been addressing the opportunities, which the leisure and youth clubs have to offer in terms of supporting and helping young people, who live in vulnerable and socially marginalized positions. The chapter explores more specifically how some young men of ethnic minority background seem to be subject to vulnerable and socially marginalized living conditions related to dealing with their schooling, education, and later on access to the labor market and the opportunities to create good and safe living conditions in the Danish society. Young men who at the same time growing up in housing areas designated as socially deprived housing areas in the Danish welfare state, which is characterized annually by the residents’ lack of education, lack of affiliation to the labor market, as well as crime.