Learning Objectives
In this chapter, you are invited to open your own mental box-o-gender normativity and spend some time rooting around through it. Our investigation is directed by three key questions that guide this chapter’s learning objectives.
- We begin by asking, “What is unique about the experience of homelessness for women?” As you work through this section, you are encouraged to think critically about how the experience of homelessness might be different for women, such as through higher rates of hidden homelessness and gender-based violence. You are also encouraged to think about the challenges that accompany mothering without the security of housing.
- Following the exploration of what makes homelessness unique for women, we shift to a broader consideration of gender by exploring answers to the question, “Do men and women have different needs when experiencing homelessness?” In this section, we will examine and critically reflect upon the gendered factors that contribute to quality of life and access to support services for men and women.
- In the final section, we will examine intersections of sexuality and homelessness through an exploration of the question, “Why is there a high rate of homelessness in the LGBTQ2S+ community?” Our discussion will explore the rates of LGBTQ2S+ homelessness amongst youth and adults, and you are encouraged to pay particular attention to how they are rooted in broader social and structural inequities stemming from homo- and transphobia.
As you move through this chapter it is beneficial to keep in mind gender and sexual expression are felt at a very personal level, but there are demands placed upon us by social norms and expectations. When the way we feel and what others expect of us do not align, conflict can emerge. Read on to learn more about the multiple and complex ways in which gender and sexuality contribute to and shape experiences of homelessness in Canada.
