'Generation rent' and the ability to 'settle down': economic and geographical variation in young people's housing transitions. Journal of Youth Studies, 20(1), pp. 63-78.There may be differences between this version and the published version. You are advised to consult the publisher's version if you wish to cite from it.http://eprints.gla.ac.uk/147165/ AbstractThe term 'Generation Rent' denotes young people who are increasingly living in the private rented sector for longer periods of their lives because they are unable to access homeownership or social housing. Drawing on qualitative data from two studies with young people and keyactors, this paper considers the phenomenon of 'Generation Rent' from the perspective of youth transitions and the concept of 'home'. These frameworks posit that young people leaving the parental home traverse housing and labour markets until they reach a point of 'settling down'. However, our data indicate that many young people face difficulties in this 'settling' process as they have to contend with insecure housing, unstable employment and welfare cuts which often force them to be flexible and mobile. This leaves many feeling frustrated as they struggle to remain fixed in place in order to 'settle down' and benefit from the positive qualities of home. Taking a Scottish focus, this paper further highlights the geographical dimension to these challenges and argues that those living in expensive and/or rural areas may find it particularly difficult to settle down.
View related articlesView Crossmark data Citing articles: 12 View citing articles 'Generation rent' and the emotions of private renting: selfworth, status and insecurity amongst low-income renters
In contrast to the post-war period, the late 20 th and early 21 st centuries in the UK have been characterised by the advancement of neoliberal policies including privatisation of the housing system and employment casualisation.Consequently, there are growing socioeconomic inequalities between those born in the post-war period -the 'Baby Boomers' and the younger generation -the 'Millenials'. Such inequalities have led to narratives of inter-generational conflict with Baby Boomers framed as jeopardising the futures of Millenials. Drawing on Mannheim's theory of social generations, the concept of generational habitus and qualitative data from 49 Baby Boomers and 62 Millenials, we unpack the ways in which inter-generational inequalities are intersubjectively understood and discussed. Our data indicate that while young people are aware of inter-generational inequalities, they do not feel resentful towards their parents' generation for profiting at their expense. Instead, many blame the government for not representing their interests.Thus, narratives of inter-generational conflict misleadingly direct blame towards the agency of Baby Boomers rather than political structures.
Young people's housing, economic and labour market circumstances have become increasingly insecure due to the combined effects of the 2007-08 economic crisis, neo-liberal welfare reforms, rising costs of higher education, and the shortage of affordable housing.Discussions of young peoples' experiences in these domains have largely neglected their spatial variability but evidence suggests that young people living in rural parts of the UK have distinctive experiences of housing, which are closely connected to labour markets and educational opportunities. By drawing on qualitative data from young people and housing professionals, this article explores some of these rural distinctions and frames them within theoretical debates about the 'precariat'. It argues for a more theoretically-informed and geographically-nuanced understanding of contemporary housing issues as rural youth potentially face greater precarity than their urban peers.
Papers dedicated solely to research methods are rare within housing studies. This is despite the importance of ensuring methodological rigour within studies that may go on to influence further research, practice and policy. Likewise ethnographic housing research is relatively uncommon even though this approach captures data at a greater level of depth than other methods. Building upon the work of prominent housing researchers who advocate the use of ethnography, this paper highlights the benefits of this approach for housing and homelessness studies, as well as discussing some of its challenges.An overview of ethnography is given to outline its origins; theoretical influences; benefits and challenges in relation to homelessness research. A study that focused on the drug and alcohol behaviours of young, homeless people in Scotland is then introduced. Drawing on this study, a reflexive account of researcher bias and self-disclosure is presented along with consideration of the processes involved in building trust and obtaining informed consent in ethnography. The paper argues that it is useful to consider method within housing research and that ethnography is a valuable approach, particularly in a time where there is growing interest in the lived experiences of people in relation to housing.
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