Adjacent segregation

Date and country of first publication

2019
China

Definition

Adjacent segregation in the context of residential segregation refers to the spatial separation of different racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic groups within close proximity to each other. Unlike more explicit forms of segregation where distinct neighborhoods are completely isolated from each other, adjacent segregation implies that neighborhoods or areas inhabited by different groups are geographically adjacent but remain socially and culturally segregated.

This form of segregation can manifest in several ways:

Block-by-Block Segregation: In some cases, neighborhoods may be racially or socioeconomically homogeneous at the level of individual blocks or streets, with little diversity within each block. However, adjacent blocks may be inhabited by different groups, leading to a checkerboard pattern of segregation.

Gentrification and Displacement: In gentrifying neighborhoods, newcomers of higher socioeconomic status may move into a previously low-income area, resulting in adjacent segregation where new upscale developments coexist with existing lower-income housing.

Subdivision Segregation: Residential developments or subdivisions may be segregated by design, with certain areas allocated for specific racial or socioeconomic groups. In some cases, these subdivisions may be adjacent to each other but remain socially segregated.

Informal Social Boundaries: Even in mixed neighborhoods, informal social boundaries may exist that discourage interaction between different groups, leading to de facto segregation despite physical proximity.

Adjacent segregation can perpetuate social inequalities and limit opportunities for interaction and social cohesion between different groups within a community. It underscores the complexity of residential segregation, which can occur even in settings where physical proximity might suggest integration.

Notes

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Adjacent segregation appears in the following literature

Zhou X., Cheng Y. (2019). Between State and Family: Discussion on the Segregation and Integration of the Daily Living Space within Shanghai Historic Lane Neighborhood. Home Cultures, 16(3), 163-190. Taylor and Francis Ltd..https://doi.org/10.1080/17406315.2020.1752550