Informal segregation

Date and country of first publication

1978
United States

Definition

Informal segregation refers to the voluntary and unofficial separation of individuals, groups, or communities based on race, ethnicity, religion, or other characteristics. This kind of segregation can occur through social norms, personal preferences, or self-segregation, without the involvement of official government policies or laws. It often perpetuates existing inequalities and can have negative impacts on social cohesion and opportunities for marginalized groups.

Notes

At its current state, this definition has been generated by a Large Language Model (LLM) so far without review by an independent researcher or a member of the curating team of segregation experts that keep the Segregation Wiki online. While we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee its reliability, completeness and timeliness. Please use this content with caution and verify information as needed. Also, feel free to improve on the definition as you see fit, including the use of references and other informational resources. We value your input in enhancing the quality and accuracy of the definitions of segregation forms collectively offered in the Segregation Wiki ©.

Further reading

Clement D.C., Harding J.R. (1978) Social Distinctions and Emergent Student Groups in a Desegregated School. Anthropology & Education Quarterly, 9(4), 272-282. [1]

Dixon J., Durrheim K. (2003) Contact and the ecology of racial division: Some varieties of informal segregation. British Journal of Social Psychology, 42(1), 1-23. [2]

Durrheim K., Trotter K., Piper L., Manicom D. (2004) From Exclusion to Informal Segregation: The Limits to Racial Transformation at the University of Natal. Social Dynamics, 30(1), 141-169. [3]

Schrieff L., Tredoux C., Dixon J., Finchilescu G. (2005) Patterns of racial segregation in university residence dining halls. South African Journal of Psychology, 35(3), 433-443. Bureau for Scientific Publications.[4]

Finchilescu G. (2005) Meta stereotypes may hinder inter racial contact. South African Journal of Psychology, 35(3), 460-472. Bureau for Scientific Publications.[5]

Finchilescu G., Tredoux C., Mynhardt J., Pillay J., Muianga L. (2007) Accounting for lack of interracial mixing amongst South African university students. South African Journal of Psychology, 37(4), 720-737. SAGE Publications Inc..[6]

Alexander L. (2007) Invading pure space: Disrupting black and white racially homogenised spaces. South African Journal of Psychology, 37(4), 738-754. Bureau for Scientific Publications.[7]

Fiss O. (2009) A way out: America's ghettos and the legacy of racism. A Way Out: America's Ghettos and the Legacy of Racism, -. Princeton University Press.[8]

Fiss O., Cohen J., Decker J., Rogers J. (2009) A way out: America's ghettos and the legacy of racism. A Way Out: America's Ghettos and the Legacy of Racism, 1-130. Princeton University Press.[9]

Snyder R.W. (2010) A useless and terrible death: The Michael farmer case, "Hidden Violence," and New York City in the fifties. Journal of Urban History, 36(2), 226-250. [10]

Young C., Mayson T. (2010) The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Scale (AUDIT) normative scores for a multiracial sample of Rhodes University residence students. Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 22(1), 15-23. [11]

Alexander L., Tredoux C. (2010) The spaces between Us: A spatial analysis of informal segregation at a South African University. Journal of Social Issues, 66(2), 367-386. [12]

Orr R., Mckeown S., Cairns E., Stringer M. (2012) Examining non racial segregation: A micro ecological approach. British Journal of Social Psychology, 51(4), 717-723. John Wiley and Sons Ltd..[13]

Telles E.E. (2014) Race in another America: The significance of skin color in Brazil. Race in Another America: The Significance of Skin Color in Brazil, 1-324. Princeton University Press.[14]

Iqbal H. (2014) Multicultural parenting: Preparation for bias socialisation in British South Asian and White families in the UK. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 43(PB), 215-226. Elsevier Ltd.[15]

Priest N., Paradies Y., Ferdinand A., Rouhani L., Kelaher M. (2014) Patterns of intergroup contact in public spaces: Micro ecology of segregation in australian communities. Societies, 4(1), 30-44. MDPI.[16]

Schieferdecker D., Wessler H. (2017) Bridging Segregation Via Media Exposure? Ingroup Identification, Outgroup Distance, and Low Direct Contact Reduce Outgroup Appearance in Media Repertoires. Journal of Communication, 67(6), 993-1014. Blackwell Publishing Ltd.[17]

Macfarlane K. (2018) Education, sufficiency, and the relational egalitarian ideal. Journal of Applied Philosophy, 35(4), 759-774. Wiley-Blackwell.[18]

Grove M., Ogden L., Pickett S., Boone C., Buckley G., Locke D.H., Lord C., Hall B. (2018) The Legacy Effect: Understanding How Segregation and Environmental Injustice Unfold over Time in Baltimore. Annals of the American Association of Geographers, 108(2), 524-537. Taylor and Francis Ltd..[19]

Bettencourt L., Dixon J., Castro P. (2019) Understanding How and Why Spatial Segregation Endures: A Systematic Review of Recent Research on Intergroup Relations at a Micro Ecological Scale. Social Psychological Bulletin, 14(2), -. PsychOpen.[20]

Paajanen P., Seppälä T., Stevenson C., Riikonen R., Finell E. (2023) Keeping Apart on the Playground: Construction of Informal Segregation on Public Playgrounds in Multiethnic Neighborhoods. Social Psychology Quarterly, 86(1), 53-73. SAGE Publications Inc..[21]