Explaining homelessness as a movement using metaphors in European academic writings of homelessness

Suvi Raitakari

Housing Studies, 2020, vol. 35, issue 10, 1684-1700

Abstract: The article shows how researchers conceptualize first-person experiences of homelessness using metaphors of movement. It is argued that the choice of metaphors in academic writing is consequential and critical—by making these choices, researchers hold the power to interpret and portray personal experiences and causalities from particular viewpoint. The present study scrutinized peer-reviewed academic articles published in three housing and homelessness research journals with European affiliations: European Journal of Homelessness (EJH), Housing Studies (HS), and Housing, Theory and Society (HTS) during the years 2012–2016. A data collection process resulted in 15 articles concentrating on homeless persons’ experiences. Articles were analyzed by applying a discursive metaphor analysis. The findings are presented by focusing on the predominant movement metaphor of ‘pathways’ and the more rarely used movement metaphor of ‘circle’. The discursive power of metaphors needs to be further studied and critically reflected in the housing and homelessness studies.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1080/02673037.2019.1680813

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