Choosing this life: Narratives of choice amongst house sharers

Citation
E. Kenyon et S. Heath, Choosing this life: Narratives of choice amongst house sharers, HOUS STUD, 16(5), 2001, pp. 619-635
Citations number
39
Categorie Soggetti
Politucal Science & public Administration
Journal title
HOUSING STUDIES
ISSN journal
02673037 → ACNP
Volume
16
Issue
5
Year of publication
2001
Pages
619 - 635
Database
ISI
SICI code
0267-3037(200109)16:5<619:CTLNOC>2.0.ZU;2-R
Abstract
House sharing amongst young adults is often regarded as being of significan ce only as a short term, transitional arrangement, and is associated with e conomic constraint. This association is, however, undergoing change, as it is a household form increasingly adopted by young people in professional an d managerial occupations. This paper focuses on the experiences of these ra ther more advantaged sharers, and explores their own accounts of why they l ive in shared housing. The language of choice features heavily in their nar ratives, embracing a consideration of the material and non-material benefit s of sharing, and of their own projected domestic trajectories. It is concl uded that, whilst financial concerns are not unimportant in their decision- making, most regard their living arrangements as appropriate to the needs a nd demands of their current lifestyles, and do not experience their living arrangements as products of constraint.