Resilience in the Face of Victimization

A Bourdieusian Analysis of Dealing With Harms and Hurts Among Street-Involved Individuals Who Smoke Crack Cocaine

Bibliographic Data

ID11056863
AuthorsKatherine Rudzinski (0000-0001-8501-9891, University of Toronto, corresponding author), Carol Strike (0000-0002-2716-3681, University of Toronto)
Year2020
Volume47
Issue1
Pages3-28
Publication date2020-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueContemporary Drug Problems (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0091-4509 • E-ISSN: 2163-1808
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0091450920907425
OpenAlexW3012303488
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited26

Victimization is a significant issue for street-involved individuals who smoke crack cocaine. Presently, there is a shortage of resilience research exploring practices that may insulate crack-smoking individuals from victimization or mitigate the effects of such experiences. Through a Bourdieusian lens, this qualitative study examines responses to victimization and the types of coping strategies utilized among ( n = 30) street-involved individuals who regularly smoke crack in Southern Ontario, Canada. A resilience framework is used for analysis—a novel approach in addictions research, since drug-using individuals are generally left out of this realm of investigation. Findings show that participants mobilize their resources and capacities to “rebound” from victimization in the “street field” (Shammas & Sandberg, 2016), through various practices. These individuals rely on their own embodied competencies as well as the “street social capital” (Ilan, 2013) available to them through their networks, in order to deal with victimization. Resilience is a complex process that needs to be continually (re)constituted for participants, owing to their lack of capital and the structural limitations of the street field. In conclusion, participants display resilience through their sense of determination and ongoing agency in navigating constraints and seizing opportunities to avoid, manage, and confront chronic victimization in the street field

Coping (psychology) · Criminology · Geography · Psychological resilience · Realm · Social capital · Social science · Sociology · Community Health and Development · Psychology · Resilience and Mental Health · Social Psychology · Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes

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