Acting on Their Own Behalf: Affiliation and Political Mobilization among Homeless People

Authors

Marcia B. Cohen, University of New England
David Wagner, University of Southern Maine

Abstract

Homeless people have been portrayed in the literature as passive, isolated, and unable to act on their own behalf. The authors discuss the findings of an ethnographic study of homeless activists which challenge the stereotypical view of homeless people as disaffiliated and disempowered. Collective social action was found to have a long term impact on access to material resources, development of social networks, and construction of positive homeless identity.

Recommended Citation

Cohen, Marcia B. and Wagner, David (1992) "Acting on Their Own Behalf: Affiliation and Political Mobilization among Homeless People," The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare: Vol. 19: Iss. 4, Article 3.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15453/0191-5096.2040
Available at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/jssw/vol19/iss4/3