The Process of Going/Settling on the Streets: The Relations between Gender, Being Homeless and Access the Health Services

Abstract

The objective of this article was to understand the relationship between gender constructions and the process of going/settling on the streets, as well as their effects on access to health services for homeless people in the city of Florianópolis/SC. Gender relations were analyzed in the trajectories of 28 gay, lesbian and heterosexual homeless people in the city of Florianópolis/SC/Brazil, based on a social constructionism research developed from December 2017 to February 2018. Family conflicts and non-acceptance of the gender identities were narrated as a fuse of going to the street and as aggravating for violence situations in the street context. The stigma for being homeless and non-heterosexual was understood as an obstacle to the use of health and social services. It is concluded that gender relations and male domination are related to the process of breaking of family ties and going to the street. Women and LGBT people are more vulnerable. Heterosexual men suffer for maintenance their dominant position. Further studies are recommended to deepen the relationship between gender, homeless and access to public policies.