Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Living in the Liminal: A Study of Homelessness in Cleveland, Ohio

Shaw, Sarah Kerr

Abstract Details

2011, MA, Kent State University, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Anthropology.

Homelessness is a liminal state, both physically and cognitively. Those who find themselves in this liminal state are subject to separation from mainstream society because of the perceived danger they pose to the mainstream. Many contemporary views of homelessness were established in the early part of the 20th century, during the Great Depression. The archetypes of the homeless that were established at this time are well documented in literature from the era. In this study, I performed participant observation of homeless men in Cleveland, Ohio in order to determine how the archetypes developed during the Great Depression have changed and how they are enacted in contemporary society.

By comparing literary and historical accounts with contemporary data, I demonstrated that there has been little change in the way the mainstream views the homeless in the last seventy years. Changes in the law have fostered a new sub-set to the archetype of the Ex-con, the Sex Offender. In addition, I found that the homeless have their own set of archetypes concerning the mainstream.

Richard Feinberg, PhD (Advisor)
Marilyn Norconk, PhD (Committee Member)
Wendy Wilson-Fall, PhD (Committee Member)
85 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Shaw, S. K. (2011). Living in the Liminal: A Study of Homelessness in Cleveland, Ohio [Master's thesis, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1310494859

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Shaw, Sarah. Living in the Liminal: A Study of Homelessness in Cleveland, Ohio. 2011. Kent State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1310494859.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Shaw, Sarah. "Living in the Liminal: A Study of Homelessness in Cleveland, Ohio." Master's thesis, Kent State University, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1310494859

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)