Researching caf life and social networks: preliminary findings

1
Researching café life and social networks
preliminary findings

• Gerry Bennison, Dawn Talbot and Jo Warner
  (University of Kent, UK)
• JSWEC Social Work Research Conference, University
  of Hertfordshire, 8th-10th July 2009

2
Background

• Began with sharing ideas for possible research
  projects
• This idea arose out of Gerry and Dawns
  experience of a local café
• Values operating in the café environment compared
  with those in formal social care setting and in
  social work
• Context is the proposed regeneration of the
  area and possibility the café might be lost

3
Methods

• Part ethnography Gerry and Dawn are long-time
  users of the café
• Jo started making regular visits as a customer
• Small amount of funding obtained for transcribing
• Approached owner for permission to interview her,
  and also other customers
• Effects of our presence as increasingly visible
  researchers as project developed

4
Theoretical context

• The sociology of everyday life
• Emotional labour (Hochschild 1983)
• Distinction between affective and effective
  spheres (Moallem 1992) in sites such as cafés

5
Values that are evident in the Café

• Friendship
• Like an extended family
• Egalitarianism
• Nurturing physical and emotional
• Firm boundaries
• Respect
• Optimism

6

• When did you first start coming to Anitas?
• I think its probably about 2 or 3 years ago but
  at first I didnt come in on a very regular
  basis. I just popped in but... What really
  struck me was I hadnt been in here for months
  and I walked in and Angie - waitress said tea
  no sugar isnt it? And I thought how did she
  remember that with all the people who come in the
  cafe? So... then I started coming here sort of
  on a regular daily basis at that time
  (Interview 21, customer at Anitas)

7

• Anita doesnt mind how long you sit with a cup
  of teasome cafés you feel you just eat and
  goIm not saying theyre unfriendly butif you
  go to another café as a woman sometimesyou dont
  feel very comfortable. But you can always come in
  here and feel comfortable as a woman (Interview
  21, customer)
• and theres many a time when Ive gone in places
  and I wont eat because I get a bit
  self-conscious. But you walk in here and theres
  always a friendly atmosphere. (Interview 22)

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Nurturing

• Weve got like a little lady at the moment. I
  mean shes sort of like really quite poorly and
  she only lives across the road and we sort of do
  her dinner at one oclock every day and she opens
  the door for us and we just run across with her
  dinner, obviously all wrapped up properly as we
  have toShes living on ham sandwiches for two
  years soYou know, and shes really perked up and
  thats sort of like a nice benefit in a way. You
  see her quite a frail old lady always in her
  dressing gown and now shes all up and dressed,
  brushing her hair (Interview with Anita, café
  owner)

9
Values, caring, and the affective domain in
café life

• In her study of Iranian immigrant entrepreneurs,
  Moallem (1999) writes
• Taghis business is more than an entrepreneurial
  space. It is an affective community space.
  (p.164)
• These case studies demonstrate how the everyday
  life practices of immigrants are articulated
  inside, between and beyond the boundaries of
  culture and economy, care and work, here and
  there, home and market, and point to new spaces
  of be/longing and citizenship (p.166)

10
Managing risk

• Everyday risks, such as stigma and ridicule
• Risk events
• All managed through clear boundaries

11
Unconditional regard and boundary setting in the
cafe

• I mean one thing Ive noticed about Anita is if
  a persons got problems she will listen, even
  though she might find it boring to hell but she
  will listen to what youve got to say and she
  wont condemnShe dont allow people to be put
  down. You know, because you can get barred. Its
  just to keep a friendly atmosphere. I mean I was
  sitting in here once and there were some people
  with... what do you call it? Downs syndrome,
  similar, and some person at the other table
  snapped back retards and Denise come out and said
  look, youre barred and they turned around and
  said you cant bar us and she said yes I can and
  she kicked them out. (Interview 19, customer at
  Anitas)

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Breaching boundaries due to mental distress

• When Cyril got banned from here, you see, she
  could have turned around and said no, youre not
  coming back in but she was one of the few where
  he actually got banned and then she let him back
  inHe apologised and she let him come back.
  (Interview 26, customer)

13
Our identity and relationships

• Service user
• Social Researcher
• Friend