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“Flipping the Scripts” of Poverty and Panhandling: Crafting Work, Doing

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“Flipping the Scripts” of Poverty and Panhandling: Crafting Work, Doing "FLIPPING THE SCRIPTS" OF POVERTY AND PANHANDLING: CRAFTING WORK, DOING DEMOCRACY, AND CREATING CONNECTIONS THROUGH STREETWISE A dissertation presented to the faculty of the College of Communication of Ohio University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy David R. Novak August 2006 This dissertation entitled "FLIPPING THE SCRIPTS" OF POVERTY AND PANHANDLING: CRAFTING WORK, DOING DEMOCRACY, AND CREATING CONNECTIONS THROUGH STREETWISE by DAVID R. NOVAK has been approved for the School of Communication Studies and the College of Communication by Lynn M. Harter Associate Professor, School of Communication Studies Gregory J. Shepherd Dean, College of Communication NOVAK, DAVID R., Ph.D., August 2006. Communication Studies "FLIPPING THE SCRIPTS" OF POVERTY AND PANHANDLING: CRAFTING WORK, DOING DEMOCRACY, AND CREATING CONNECTIONS THROUGH STREETWISE (376 pp.) Director of Dissertation: Lynn M. Harter Homelessness is a complex social issue about which there has been no shortage of scholarly discussion. I enter this discussion through a case study of StreetWise, an organization in Chicago, Illinois. StreetWise produces a newspaper that is sold by people without homes or those at risk for homelessness. In bearing witness to the lived experiences of individuals traditionally excluded from public discourses, I provide an interpretation of how human action occurs in recurrent institutional patters of symbolizing that are developed and reinforced by the conditions of living. I work to understand how those discourses are shaped by extra-symbolic forces. Using the theoretical frameworks of American Pragmatism(s) and feminism(s), I utilized four methodologies to collect discourse related to StreetWise, poverty, and homelessness: participatory photography, in-depth interviews, participant observation, and document analysis. The results are encompassed in nine themes which include discussion of issues related to what constitutes “real” work, the importance and drawbacks of historical narratives, and corporeal and material impacts on communication. Also discussed are issues of the construction and disruption of public and private space, the connection and separation of diverse peoples, and organizational hierarchies as they occur within StreetWise and in public space. Finally, issues of journalistic agendas, definitions of success and failure, and the importance of daily acts of participatory democracy are presented. The results of the data collection and interpretation are presented in light of four research questions. I argue that the organizational-environment interface for vendors’ participation in public life is revealed through attempts by the organization to “flip the scripts” that guide commercial and social relationships between vendors and the broader public. It is within the complex interplay of organizational and environmental forces that StreetWise crafts viable employment and vendors do democracy. I also suggest that small acts of daily participation (e.g., simple recognition, striking up a conversation, taking and reading a street newspaper) are significant ways by which ordinary citizens can co- construct a more inclusive ethnos. Ultimately, I argue that StreetWise fosters democracy by enabling vendors to participate in public space. Practical implications for StreetWise, limitations, and directions for future research are also discussed. Approved: Lynn M. Harter Associate Professor, School of Communication Studies Acknowledgements "[A]ny text is constructed of a mosaic of quotations; any text is the absorption and transformation of another.” (Kristeva, 1986, p. 37) As I firmly we believe we live and understand in relation with others, I would be remiss if I did not recognize just a few of the multitude of people who have played various roles in my development as a scholar, co-worker, friend, family member and partner. To the members of my committee: Chairperson, Dr. Lynn Harter – I will always appreciate the countless hours you have spent mentoring me, editing my work, and talking about ideas. Thank you for your time, dedication and friendship. You embody “scholar/teacher” in the best sense of both words. Dr. Scott Titsworth - I admire your scholarly flexibility and dedication to all of your students. I am grateful for your constant guidance, superior advice and rewarding friendship. Dr. Caryn Medved – Your guidance (and sarcasm) during my time at Ohio will not be forgotten. Thank you for all of the help you have offered to me. Dr. Vincent Waldron – I am honored to have a scholar such as yourself, with all of your expertise, offer insights on my work. Thank you. Dr. Paula Popovich – Thank you for serving as a committee member. Your class and insights helped me to see my own discipline and interests from a unique and useful perspective. To the many other faculty of the School of Communication Studies who have played key roles in my development as a scholar, teacher, writer, thinker and researcher: Dr. Greg Shepherd, Dr. Raymie McKerrow, Dr. Jeffrey St. John, and Dr. Nagesh Rao. You deserve my deepest gratitude for your influence on me during my time at Ohio University. To the administrative staff of the School of Communication Studies: Wanda Sheridan, Julie Venrick and Brenda Nelson: thank you for hunting down many answers, offering abundant help and assisting in navigating many bureaucratic mazes. To all of my current and former graduate student colleagues in the School of Communication Studies: I am forever grateful for the spirit of cooperation and camaraderie that has been co-created in my time at Ohio University. I believe that I have had one of the most amazing graduate school experiences that a person could ask for; this is because of all of you. I would like to note special influence on my intellectual, personal and/or professional development by Mark Leeman, Stephanie Norander, Jennifer Scott, Ami Sengupta, and Alane Smith though I am grateful to all my colleagues with whom I have shared beers and/or whiskey, tested out ideas, driven to hockey games, shared meals and crammed into office space. To Mom and Dad: your unbounded love and never-ending support have kept me motivated to use my talents and knowledge to try to make a small part of the world a better place. Your pride, respect and love mean the most to me. To Paul: Simply put, you are the best brother anyone could ask for. To Pa: I said in the acknowledgements section of my thesis that you are a model of manhood that I strive to be. Quiet, thoughtful and intelligent, those sentiments hold true today. To Leslie: I cannot imagine my life without you. We have made it through the final days we will ever spend apart. The thoughts of living life next to you, exploring the world with your hand in mine and being your partner make me happier than I thought possible. I will do my all to return what you give me. Most importantly, thank you to all of the people of StreetWise. I hope this work, in some small way, offers new and interesting insights on the portions of your lives that you so graciously allowed me to glimpse. 8 Table of Contents Abstract............................................................................................................................... 3 Acknowledgements............................................................................................................. 5 List of Photographs........................................................................................................... 10 Chapter One: Problem Statement...................................................................................... 11 The Scope of Homelessness in the United States ......................................................... 19 My Feminist and Pragmatist Standpoint....................................................................... 25 The Relationships Between Feminisms and Pragmatisms............................................ 35 Experience................................................................................................................. 36 Social Change ........................................................................................................... 40 Community ................................................................................................................ 44 Integrative Thinking.................................................................................................. 48 Theory and Practice.................................................................................................. 51 Conclusion .................................................................................................................... 54 Chapter Two: Review of Literature .................................................................................. 56 History of Democracy................................................................................................... 58 Democracy and Organizing .......................................................................................... 63 Civic Journalism ........................................................................................................... 70 Research about Homelessness ...................................................................................... 77 Descriptive Portraits................................................................................................. 78 Antecedents and Outcomes of Homelessness............................................................ 78 Transcendence
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