An unconditional, dignified return to society: A document analysis of Emmaüs’ representations of the homeless in France
(2025) WPMM42 20251School of Social Work
Department of Sociology
Sociology
- Abstract
- This thesis explores the representations of homelessness by the not-for-profit association Emmaüs in France through the lens of deservingness and the impact of social control of the French government on these representations. The representation of homelessness is an important issue as Emmaüs uses this representation to determine the scope of its services and the deservingness of the homeless they help. The external social control from the French government implies a negative representative role and pressure. Through the use of Emmaüs’ annual reports and the analysis of their discourse, we aim to look at the construction of Emmaüs’ representations of the deservingness of the homeless. To examine Emmaüs’ representation of the homeless and... (More)
- This thesis explores the representations of homelessness by the not-for-profit association Emmaüs in France through the lens of deservingness and the impact of social control of the French government on these representations. The representation of homelessness is an important issue as Emmaüs uses this representation to determine the scope of its services and the deservingness of the homeless they help. The external social control from the French government implies a negative representative role and pressure. Through the use of Emmaüs’ annual reports and the analysis of their discourse, we aim to look at the construction of Emmaüs’ representations of the deservingness of the homeless. To examine Emmaüs’ representation of the homeless and the impact of social control, we will split the analysis between the representations of the homeless and the reality of Emmaüs’ services. To set the necessary background, we will start with the definitions of homelessness, the background of homelessness in France and Paris, along with Emmaüs’ role. The application of the theories of social control and deservingness allows this thesis to imply that Emmaüs makes use of their representations of the deserving homeless to counter the social control enforced upon them. Through representations of homelessness from an empathetic standpoint, Emmaüs aims to show that the homeless deserve to make use of their services and that Emmaüs can effectively respond to the homeless on the basis of unconditional access to their services. (Less)
- Popular Abstract
- This thesis will look at how Emmaüs, a French association with the aim of reducing precarity, portrays the issue of homelessness within France. The definitions of homelessness differ between the association and the public institutions. The use of a larger, more encompassing definition which includes individuals sleeping on the street and in emergency shelters is used by Emmaüs to show that there is a larger population of homeless individuals in France. The definition of homelessness, as used by the French government, is much more restrictive by only looking at those sleeping in the street.
The use of a larger definition is important to Emmaüs as it allows for them to include more individuals as deserving of their services. The theory of... (More) - This thesis will look at how Emmaüs, a French association with the aim of reducing precarity, portrays the issue of homelessness within France. The definitions of homelessness differ between the association and the public institutions. The use of a larger, more encompassing definition which includes individuals sleeping on the street and in emergency shelters is used by Emmaüs to show that there is a larger population of homeless individuals in France. The definition of homelessness, as used by the French government, is much more restrictive by only looking at those sleeping in the street.
The use of a larger definition is important to Emmaüs as it allows for them to include more individuals as deserving of their services. The theory of deservingness aims to look at who is considered ‘to blame’ for their situation and how worthy these individuals are of, for this thesis, social services through their control over their situation ; level of need in comparison to others ; how close their identity is to ‘us’ rather than ‘them’ ; their attitude and perceived gratefulness ; and their reciprocity based on how much they contribute. These various criteria allow us to look at Emmaüs' arguments for the deservingness of the homeless and how they frame the homeless through these various lenses. However, the representations of the homeless through these deservingness criteria can be influenced by the French government through the use of coercive social control. This concept looks at how individuals or associations are controlled by others through the use of threats of deprivation. These threats are used to ensure changes in behavior which, in this thesis, is the French governments’ attempt to control Emmaüs’ wider inclusion of the homeless through threats of funding cuts and political intervention.
This thesis examines the difference between Emmaüs’ and the French governments’ portrayals of the worthiness of the homeless. Emmaüs aims for an unconditional, open access to all homeless. In contrast, the French government aims to control this aim through political pressures and budget restrictions so as to create a more conditional access of social services based on categories of worthiness. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9190328
- author
- Bühler, Fayna Zoé LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- WPMM42 20251
- year
- 2025
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- homelessness, representations, France, deservingness, social control
- language
- English
- id
- 9190328
- date added to LUP
- 2025-07-14 10:24:29
- date last changed
- 2025-07-14 10:24:29
@misc{9190328,
abstract = {{This thesis explores the representations of homelessness by the not-for-profit association Emmaüs in France through the lens of deservingness and the impact of social control of the French government on these representations. The representation of homelessness is an important issue as Emmaüs uses this representation to determine the scope of its services and the deservingness of the homeless they help. The external social control from the French government implies a negative representative role and pressure. Through the use of Emmaüs’ annual reports and the analysis of their discourse, we aim to look at the construction of Emmaüs’ representations of the deservingness of the homeless. To examine Emmaüs’ representation of the homeless and the impact of social control, we will split the analysis between the representations of the homeless and the reality of Emmaüs’ services. To set the necessary background, we will start with the definitions of homelessness, the background of homelessness in France and Paris, along with Emmaüs’ role. The application of the theories of social control and deservingness allows this thesis to imply that Emmaüs makes use of their representations of the deserving homeless to counter the social control enforced upon them. Through representations of homelessness from an empathetic standpoint, Emmaüs aims to show that the homeless deserve to make use of their services and that Emmaüs can effectively respond to the homeless on the basis of unconditional access to their services.}},
author = {{Bühler, Fayna Zoé}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{An unconditional, dignified return to society: A document analysis of Emmaüs’ representations of the homeless in France}},
year = {{2025}},
}