When Worlds Collide: Combining Stigma Management Strategies and Intersectionality Theory Amongst Homeless and Lower-Income Adults

Abstract

Employing multiple theoretical frameworks and both qualitative and quantitative methods, this research examines the identity management strategies and perceived obstacles that homeless/lower-income adults use/experience as a consequence of stigma and their intersecting identities. Data from structured interviews with 22 homeless/lower- income adults accessing services at a Frederick, Maryland agency was analyzed for emergent themes, translated into key word searches and quantified to conduct Fisher’s exact tests for statistical significance. Results confirm that certain stigma management strategies and perceived obstacles vary significantly by gender, race/ethnicity, or age, thereby supporting arguments for future research more attuned to the consequences of intersecting identities for homeless/lower-income populations.