Summary
This master thesis is based on Trigeparken, a housing sector in the north / west of the Aarhus area. In October 2011, Trigeparken was named ghetto as Trigeparken meets two out of three political set parameters for when a housing sector should be considered a ghetto area. In Trigeparken there is a high proportion of residents whit no relations to the labor market or education, and a high percentage of adult residents with criminal backgrounds, and is therefor to be considered a ghetto area.
Trigeparkens appointment to the ghetto area creates strong reactions from the housing area residents and social workers, who do not agree with the fact that Trigeparken can be described as a ghetto area. My desire with this master thesis has been to look at the reactions the ghetto-name generates amongst housing area residents and social workers, and I have therefore undertaken a detailed study of the meaning these residents and social workers ascribe to Trigeparkens appointment to ghetto area. In addition, I have conducted detailed analysis of the impact it has on residents and the social work in Trigeparken that the latter is attached a name, which residents and social workers do not agree with and has no influence on.
This interest and wonder which is the basis for this master thesis, I have studied using a theoretical analysis framework constituted by Howard S. Becker, Pierre Bourdieu and Axel Honneth. A creative combination of selected parts of the three theoreticians extensive work, have constituted an adequate interpretative framework for the knowledge I have wanted to seek with the present.
The meta-theoretical perspective, I ascribe to with this master thesis consists of the philosophical and critical hermeneutics. With my desire to gain knowledge about the meaning residents and social workers ascribes to Trigeparkens appointment to ghetto area, it is their understanding and interpretation of Trigeparkens appointment as ghetto area I weigh in this master thesis, a weighting that brings me near the hermeneutic tradition. In addition, this master thesis is based on my preconceived understanding about Trigeparkens appointment to ghetto area, and its implications for the residents and the social work in Trigeparken. Furthermore I approached this study with a theoretical perspective from which I interpret. With this preconceived understanding, I am positioning myself within the philosophical hermeneutics where understanding is considered as represented by pre-understanding and pre-judgements. With my positioning within the critical hermeneutics I subscribe to the distinction between 'is' and 'should' which is embedded in this perspective, as I not only examines what ‘is’ in connection with Trigeparkens appointment to ghetto area, but also draws on moral evaluation of what 'should' be, as I points out the problem in Trigeparkens appointment to ghetto area despite of the fact that residents and social workers disagree with the justification of this term.
In the production of empirical data I have used Steinar Kvale's qualitative research interview. With this type of interviewing I have been able to achieve insight in the residents and social workers opinions and understandings about Trigeparkens appointment to ghetto area. This type of interview is characterized by being half structured and theme-oriented, which has made it possible for me not only to bring my pre-understandings and pre-judgments in play but also to put them at stake, as I only prepare topics for the conversation, topics to which residents and social workers attach meaning and importance.
In the analysis I categorize the empirical material under theory inspired headlines. Here I have, by comparing the different printed interviews, categorized the opinions and understandings that say something about the same phenomenon, and with headings made of theoretical concepts I specify the theoretical perspective applicable to the analysis section.
I have with this master thesis concluded, that the residents and the social workers in Trigeparken understands the housing sector as a peaceful and safe place to be, and that they in no way can connect the understanding of ghetto areas as they are presented by the politicians, with Trigeparken. I have also been able to conclude, that Trigeparkens appointment as ghetto area, despite residents and social workers protests here to, leaves these actors in the dominated role where their understanding of reality and the social work carried out in Trigeparken aren’t granted any recognition. Although, neither residents nor social workers understands Trigeparken to be a ghetto area, they, and Trigeparken is added unflattering characteristics along with the ghetto stamp, and despite the fact that residents and social workers understands Trigeparken as a peaceful and attractive residential area, the politicians' understanding of ghetto areas as being unsafe parallel societies, becomes reality for Trigeparken.