Housing Studies, Social Class and Being Towards Dwelling

This paper offers a response to the important critiques made by Chris Allen and other scholars of housing research in the fields of housing market renewal and gentrification. The paper begins by responding to the specific interpretation and criticism made by Allen and Webb about a report co‐produced by the author of this paper. It then broadens out its focus to discuss three key themes. Firstly, it explores the distance and conflict in the conceptual frameworks of “being‐in‐the‐world” between housing research and working‐class residents. Secondly, in supporting the argument that housing research needs to understand working‐class housing consumptions on their own terms and not simply in relational terms to middle‐class housing consumptions, this paper suggests that critical researchers themselves continue to use a relational framework that essentializes and generalizes class in housing consumption. Finally, the paper briefly critiques the concept of symbolic violence and class or market hegemony in the constitution of working‐class consciousness and identity.