Urban spatial segregation

2005
united states

Urban spatial segregation refers to the physical separation and division of different social groups within a city based on factors such as socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, or occupation. This segregation can result in the concentration of certain groups in specific areas, often leading to disparities in access to resources, opportunities, and quality of life.

The causes of urban spatial segregation are complex and multifaceted, influenced by historical, economic, political, and social factors. Some key factors contributing to segregation include discriminatory housing practices, gentrification, urban development patterns, and income inequality.

Segregation can have significant impacts on individuals and communities. It can perpetuate existing inequalities and contribute to a cycle of poverty and disadvantage. Segregated neighborhoods may lack access to quality education, healthcare, employment opportunities, and other resources and amenities. This can lead to disparities in social mobility and perpetuate a sense of division between different groups within the city.

Efforts to address urban spatial segregation often involve policies and initiatives aimed at promoting diversity, inclusivity, and accessibility. This may include implementing fair housing practices, promoting mixed-income housing developments, investing in infrastructure and services in disadvantaged areas, and fostering community engagement and participation.

Overall, reducing urban spatial segregation is a critical goal for creating more equitable and inclusive cities, where individuals and communities have equal opportunities and access to resources.

Further reading

Mazsu J. (2015) "Jewish Settlement in Prohibited Cities: Jewish Immigration into Debrecen in the Period 1790 1870", East Central Europe, 42(2-3), pp. 181-215. Brill Academic Publishers. DOI: 10.1163/18763308-04202010

Benassi F.; Bitonti F.; Mazza A.; Strozza S. (2023) "Sri Lankans’ residential segregation and spatial inequalities in Southern Italy: an empirical analysis using fine scale data on regular lattice geographies", Quality and Quantity, 57(2), pp. 1629-1648. Springer Science and Business Media B.V.. DOI: 10.1007/s11135-022-01434-5

Barbosa L.M.; Coates R. (2021) "Resisting disaster chronopolitics: Favelas and forced displacement in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil", International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 63(), pp. -. Elsevier Ltd. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2021.102447

Bonilla-Bedoya S.; Estrella A.; Santos F.; Herrera M.Á. (2020) "Forests and urban green areas as tools to address the challenges of sustainability in Latin American urban socio ecological systems", Applied Geography, 125(), pp. -. Elsevier Ltd. DOI: 10.1016/j.apgeog.2020.102343

Stédile J.A. (2020) "Dynamics of urban segregation Vila Leopoldina. From sesmarias to gated communities; [Dinâmicas da segregação urbana na Vila Leopoldina: das sesmarias aos condomínios fechados]; [Dinámicas de la segregación urbana en Vila Leopoldina: de sesmarias a condominios cerrados]", Revista de Gestao Ambiental e Sustentabilidade, 10(1), pp. -. Universidade Nove de Julho-UNINOVE. DOI: 10.5585/geas.v10i1.18453

De Carvalho Vallin I.; Gonçalves Dias S.L.F. (2019) "The double burden of environmental injustice in a female waste pickers cooperative in Brazil", Journal fur Entwicklungspolitik, 35(2-3), pp. 116-144. Mattersburger Kreis fur Entwicklungspolitik. DOI: 10.20446/JEP-2414-3197-35-2-116

Alemdaroğlu A. (2017) "Spatial segregation and class subjectivity in Turkey; [Ségrégation spatiale et subjectivité de classe en Turquie]; [La segregación espacial y la subjetividad de clase en Turquía]", Social and Cultural Geography, 18(5), pp. 603-622. Routledge. DOI: 10.1080/14649365.2016.1206961

Shtern M. (2016) "Urban neoliberalism vs. ethno national division: The case of West Jerusalem's shopping malls", Cities, 52(), pp. 132-139. Elsevier Ltd. DOI: 10.1016/j.cities.2015.11.019

Beyers C. (2013) "Urban Land Restitution and the Struggle for Social Citizenship in South Africa", Development and Change, 44(4), pp. 965-989. . DOI: 10.1111/dech.12041

Wassmer R.W. (2005) "An economic view of the causes as well as the costs and some of the benefits of urban spatial segregation", Desegregating The City: Ghettos, Enclaves, and Inequality, 158-174. State University of New York Press. DOI: [1]

Pearce-Oroz G. (2005) "Causes and consequences of rapid urban spatial segregation: The new towns of Tegucigalpa", Desegregating The City: Ghettos, Enclaves, and Inequality, 108-124. State University of New York Press. DOI: [2]