3,781
Views
69
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Pages 305-327
Received 26 Jul 2004
Published online: 17 Feb 2007
 

This ethnographic portrayal relies on participant observations at two supplemental support programs for youth without homes, narratives collected through in-depth interviews with educators and case managers, and focus group interviews with youth participants to explore the discursive (re)production of invisibility among youth without homes. Structuration theory is used to frame macro and micro forces coalescing to enable and constrain processes of invisibility among the hidden homeless. Analysis reveals how invisibility shapes (and is shaped by) processes of stigmatization, “street smarts” as enacted by youth, and “Mayberry” and “not in my backyard” community discourses, and how the disappearance of youth without homes simultaneously serves and undermines various stakeholders.

We are grateful to Joann Keyton for her expert guidance and attention to detail through the editorial process and anonymous reviewers for their supportive reflections. We also appreciate the thoughtful reflections of Roger Aden, Bill Rawlins, Greg Shepherd, and Raymie McKerrow in fine-tuning these arguments.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Lynn M. Harter

Lynn M. Harter is an Assistant Professor in the School of Communication Studies at Ohio University

Charlene Berquist

Charlene Berquist is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication at Missouri State University

B. Scott Titsworth

B. Scott Titsworth is an Assistant Professor in the School of Communication Studies at Ohio University

David Novak

David Novak is a doctoral student in the School of Communication Studies at Ohio University

Tod Brokaw

Tod Brokaw is a doctoral student in the School of Communication Studies at Ohio University

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.