“They See Me as Less Than a Man”: The Stigmatization of Men Experiencing Homelessness

Abstract

Drawing on the theoretical frameworks of stigma and hegemonic masculinity, this qualitative study describes the stigmatization of men experiencing homelessness. The analysis is based on individual interviews carried out with 44 men experiencing homelessness, aged 23 to 66 years. Using a thematic analysis method, we identified three main themes related to the stigmatization of men experiencing homelessness. The first theme describes four forms of stereotypes attached to men’s experiences of homelessness—“addict,” “psychotic,” “dangerous,” and “minority.” The second theme refers to the symbolic consequences of stigmatization which create a sense of humiliation and shame among participants, to the point of making them feel reduced, as in “less than men.” The third theme describes the stigma management strategies deployed by men to present a positive image of themselves despite experiencing homelessness, which involves playing with the codes of masculinity. This study reveals that the process of stigmatization that affects men experiencing homelessness is based on gendered relationships marked by hegemonic masculinity founded on capitalistic, patriarchal, and “homeism” logics, highly valued in contemporary society.