Lived Experience of Girls Running Away from Home

This paper analyzes the concept of "home" among runaways and based on the lived experience of this group, we try to achieve a better understanding of "home" to expand the existing base of knowledge about the phenomenon of runaways. Phenomenolo-gical study was undertaken using Colaizzi method. Data were collected through inter-views with 10 girls aged 15 to 20 years shortly after escaping home. Results indic-ated a complex picture of "Home" as reported by participants. In principle, meaning of "home" for them was associated and connected to "absence” of it and at the same time the ideal home, real home, homelessness and alternative home are in their mind and can be seen in their behavior. "Being" or "not being" in this context, is the origin of judgments about girls character. Indeed, understanding the meaning of "home" as a mental construct, forms the character of runaway girls and influenced by prevailing social norms and structures.