“No one saw us, and no one did anything” – young women with a history in out-of-home care narrate management of (in)visibility and intersecting identities

Abstract

Dominating narratives about young women in out-of-home care typically depict them as ‘troublemakers’, ‘victims’ or ‘damaged’. Such narratives undermine the importance of understanding how these young women manage difficult life circumstances and intersecting identities. This paper explores how young women with a history in out-of-home care manage their personal stories and identities. By applying an intersectional perspective, we explore the complexity of these young women’s identities. This study draws data from eight narrative interviews with five young women with challenging personal stories. A feminist listening guide was adopted for the analysis. Our analysis identified the management of intersecting identities, (in)visibility and agency in participants’ stories. Based on the analysis, we recommend an intersectional perspective in social work practice.