The politics of homelessness in the Australian print media
Files
(Published version)
Date
2010
Authors
Zufferey, C.
Editors
Velayutham, S.
Ebert, N.
Watking, S.
Ebert, N.
Watking, S.
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Conference paper
Citation
Social Causes, Private Lives, 2010 / Velayutham, S., Ebert, N., Watking, S. (ed./s), pp.1-11
Statement of Responsibility
Conference Name
The Annual Conference of the Australian Sociological Association 2010 (6 Dec 2010 : Australia)
Abstract
The media plays an important role in politicising social problems such as homelessness. This paper argues that political debates and media representations of homelessness frame options available to policy makers and social work practitioners and shape policy and practice responses to homelessness. Positive and compassionate representations of homelessness can influence the development of respectful and inclusive policy and practice approaches to homelessness. However, dominant representations of homelessness in the print media that individualise social problems also reinforce deep-seated community values that maintainunequal power and gender relations and transcend political changes in society