Street Children: Cultural Concerns

Abstract

The definition of street children—those for whom the street has become their home, with no protection, supervision, or direction from responsible adults—includes several problematic terms. Attempts to categorize their working and living circumstances have also been difficult. In both Western and non-Western countries, agencies issue controversial estimates of their overall number, reflecting the nebulous definition of targeted groups and the creation of homelessness as a social issue. Representations of street children hinge upon the constructs of home, family, and a proper childhood, while explanations of rising homelessness emphasize either broad structural factors or personal dysfunction. Popular views of street children—as victims or villains, foresaken, or deviant—are actually unhelpful. Child-centered perspectives now emphasize the capabilities of children (agency and social competence) rather than their helplessness or dependency, while methods of participatory research seek to listen to children in planning welfare interventions in their ‘best interest.’ There is, particularly with respect to health, little comparative and longitudinal information on the outcomes of street life. Current research is focused on the subjective and cultural interpretations of homelessness, the context of poverty and social exclusion, and appropriate interventions which respect the coping strategies and rights of street children.