Amidst a trend emphasizing causal explanations in qualitative research, this work challenges a singular focus on causal mechanisms. While acknowledging their importance, it argues for the equal value of constitutive descriptions. Inspired by Pacewicz, it proposes that understanding what phenomena are, their dimensions, and optimal categorization, offers unique insights. Against Pacewicz, it contends that mechanisms can themselves be constituents of social phenomena, and building on a robust definition of social systems from Haslanger and Chang it clarifies why generalizations of constitutive description work beyond good scholars warrants. Drawing on a case study this article demonstrates how non-causal explanations can answer “why” questions. By analyzing Desmond’s work with the urban poor, this example showcases the interplay between constitutive and causal explanations, highlighting the potential of mechanisms to be constitutive elements of certain phenomena. Thus, demonstrating that qualitative explanation occurs not solely by identifying causal mechanisms.