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Living with diversity or living with difference? International perspectives on everyday perceptions of the social composition of diverse neighbourhoods
Abstract
Introduction
Living with social differences and all the encounters, conflicts and transgressions this entails is a constituent part of urban living (see, for example, Amin, 2002; Massey, 2005). With increasing regional and global migration, the level and complexity of social differences seems to have reached a new height, as has been highlighted by work claiming that urban societies have become super- or hyper-diversified (Vertovec 2007; Tasan-Kok et al, 2014). Identities have become more fluid and urban social compositions more complex. The experience of living in large cities and metropolises constitutes the background of a new emphasis on engaging with difference from a diversity perspective.
If this quality is new, does it generate a new normality of living together? Is any notion of this multiplicity of social characteristics present in how people see and judge the social composition of their neighbourhood? Drawing from qualitative interviews with inhabitants in three European cities – Athens, Paris and Leipzig – we aim to understand how people live with diversity in less privileged neighbourhoods. Empirically, we examine how people describe the social groups in their area along two guiding questions:
• 1. What categories or combinations do inhabitants use to construct social groupings and their relation to place?
• 2. Which normative assessments about a group's presence in the neighbourhood are accepted and which are contested?
We employ a social differences perspective inspired by intersectionality theory to interpret these data and to understand how inhabitants of such increasingly heterogeneous neighbourhoods perceive, describe and judge their social environment. We show that in all three cities inhabitants’ perceptions are replete with stereotypes of intersecting social group identities. Distinctions first and foremost lie at the intersection of characteristics (like income, ethnicity, age and gender), which serve as the basis for expressions of closeness, distance and stigmatisation. In our view, the intersectionality approach offers a strong starting point for their analysis, although it gives less consideration to the variety of differences such as orientations, values or the duration of residence in a neighbourhood.
Social difference from a conceptual perspective
Terms and concepts addressing social heterogeneity
In theories on social inequalities various paradigms have been employed to make sense of social heterogeneity. Heterogeneity – as opposed to homogeneity – is a descriptive term conveying that there are differences between people.
... Their heterogeneity and dynamics of in-and outgoing people make social cohesion being a specific challenge in these areas. Crowded and underprivileged housing conditions, density and high shares of income-poor households are additional factors that aggravate the situation (Großmann et al., 2019). Urban spaces of arrival are, as we e.g. ...
Significance Statement
The Peruvian Upwelling ecosystem is highly productive. El Niño variability affects species abundance and distribution, and thus marine activities. Climate change is modifying El Niño patterns, compromising the strategies of marine organisms and human activities to cope with its variability. We focus on three marine social-ecological systems to identify weaknesses and leverage points for adaptation and resilience. We find that (1) the Peruvian artisanal fishery and aquaculture sectors urgently need an institutional framework for adaptation to future environmental changes; (2) bottom-up adaptation strategies require institutional support, tailored to socio-ecological specificities; and (3) additional research on socio-ecological tipping points and their effects for human-nature interactions and societal repercussions is necessary. These finding may be useful in other systems undergoing similar challenges.
... Their heterogeneity and dynamics of in-and outgoing people make social cohesion being a specific challenge in these areas. Crowded and underprivileged housing conditions, density and high shares of income-poor households are additional factors that aggravate the situation (Großmann et al., 2019). Urban spaces of arrival are, as we e.g. ...
Significance Statement
In a rapidly urbanizing world, urban wilderness areas offer unique opportunities to connect with raw nature. After examining social demand for urban wilderness in one of the fastest growing cities in the United States, we found that high levels of naturalness positively influence visitors’ use and perception of natural areas. Age and youth experiences with nature were the most significant, positive correlates with perception of wildlife. Regardless of race/ethnicity, income, and education, visitors recognized the importance of wildlife in urban wilderness. Overall, this study found that social demand for urban wilderness is a multi-dimensional balance between natural amenities and cultural conveniences. This knowledge is useful to city planners to properly plan and protect the natural areas within urban environments.
... Their heterogeneity and dynamics of in-and outgoing people make social cohesion being a specific challenge in these areas. Crowded and underprivileged housing conditions, density and high shares of income-poor households are additional factors that aggravate the situation (Großmann et al., 2019). Urban spaces of arrival are, as we e.g. ...
Significance Statement
The structure of the city and related composition and configuration of green infrastructure (GI) translate into supply and distribution of ecosystem services (ES). Therefore, we aimed to recognize the social perception of ES at the background of the spatial structure (from the dense centre to the rural-like suburbs) based on a case study of Poznań city in Poland. The findings revealed that although distribution and types of GI vary among main urban zones, inhabitants appreciate the cultural ES of GI regardless of its type or location. They expressed the demand for enhancement of recreational ES and the importance of accessibility to the green spaces. The study also emphasised the complex trade-offs between cultural and regulating ES highlighting the role of ES-oriented planning.
The fourth essential theme from the research study, serving greater good, is working ethically for the benefit of all concerned with a high level of awareness of oneself and the environment in which one lives. The theme describes the impact of leaders’ awakened sense of co-responsibility and ethic of universal stewardship in their journey towards wholeness. The ethic of co-responsibility is rooted in a culture of relational trust and mutuality. In their quest for wholeness, the leaders sought circles of relational trust to discover their identity and integrity, cultivating authentic dialogue and personal presence. Creating networks of responsibility and transformation, these leaders influenced the wider community and became catalysts for change. A broader view of life and a profound spiritual crisis experience helped these leaders empathize with others’ suffering and pain. Expanding the circle of compassion not only to human beings but also to animals and the whole nature, these leaders expressed concern and care for all sentient beings. Rooted deeply in the universal values of trust, respect, responsibility, compassion, and solidarity, the leaders nurtured and modeled an ethic of co-responsibility and universal stewardship, serving greater good in their quest for wholeness.
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