Spatial Inequality and Residential Segregation (10A) - Psych & Soc

What is blockbusting?

Inducing White flight for profit by stoking racial fears. Realtors profit from panic-selling and racial turnover.
What is the neighborhood effect?

Local context shapes outcomes (education, health, crime, mobility). Place matters beyond individual characteristics.
What is de jure segregation?

Segregation enforced by laws or official policies. Legal mandates like Jim Crow laws enforced separation.
What is residential segregation in sociological terms?

Physical separation of groups into different neighborhoods. Creates homogeneous neighborhoods by race, ethnicity, or income.
Identify the most direct way residential segregation can widen health disparities.

Unequal access to care, healthy food, safe housing, and clean air. Place determines exposure to health resources and risks.
What is gentrification?

In-migration of higher-income residents raising costs and displacing locals. Economic forces transform neighborhoods, often harming long-term residents.
Which option best describes environmental racism?

Disproportionate pollution burdens placed on marginalized communities. Hazardous facilities often sited near minority neighborhoods.
Which option best describes how property-tax funding can create school inequality?

Wealthier areas collect more taxes, enabling better-resourced schools. Local funding creates resource disparities between rich and poor districts.
What is residential segregation?

Physical separation of groups into different neighborhoods. Results from historical policies and ongoing discrimination.
Identify the segregation dimension defined as potential contact between groups in shared areas.

Exposure (or isolation). Low exposure means groups rarely interact in daily life.
What is gentrification?

In-migration of higher-income residents raising costs and displacing. Market forces push out long-term, lower-income residents.
What is spatial inequality in a sociological context?

Unequal distribution of resources and opportunities across places. Reflects how geography shapes access to education, jobs, and services.
Which index measures how evenly two groups are distributed across neighborhoods?

Index of dissimilarity. Ranges from 0 (integration) to 1 (complete segregation).
What is white flight?

Majority group leaving neighborhoods as minority presence increases. Often triggered by blockbusting or school integration, creating segregated suburbs.
What is the neighborhood effect hypothesis?

Neighborhood context causally shapes outcomes beyond individual traits. Place matters independently of who lives there.
What is redlining?

Denying or raising cost of credit/insurance based on neighborhood demographics. Banks historically drew red lines on maps around minority neighborhoods.
What term describes banks denying mortgages in certain neighborhoods by race or risk rating?

Redlining. Maps marked minority areas as high-risk, denying loans.
What is blockbusting?

Inducing sales by stoking racial fear, then profiting from turnover. Real estate agents exploited racial fears for financial gain.
What is a racial covenant (restrictive covenant) in housing history?

Contract clause barring sale/occupancy by specific racial groups. Outlawed by Supreme Court in 1948 but effects persist.
What is de facto segregation?

Segregation produced by social and economic forces, not laws. Market dynamics and preferences create unofficial separation.
What is blockbusting?

Inducing white flight for profit by stoking racial fears. Real estate agents profited from racial turnover.
What is White flight?

Out-migration of White residents from diversifying urban neighborhoods. Demographic shift often triggered by racial integration fears.
What is residential segregation?

Physical separation of groups into different neighborhoods by race or SES. Systematic sorting creates homogeneous neighborhoods by demographic characteristics.
What is the key difference between segregation and social stratification?

Segregation is spatial separation; stratification is hierarchical inequality. Segregation is horizontal separation; stratification is vertical ranking.
What is de facto segregation, as contrasted with de jure segregation?

Segregation by practice and circumstances, not explicit law. Results from choices and discrimination, not legal mandates.
What is White flight?

Majority-group departure from neighborhoods as minorities move in. Racial prejudice drives suburban migration patterns.
Which scenario best indicates gentrification: rising rents with displacement, or stable rents with turnover?

Rising rents with displacement. Displacement distinguishes gentrification from normal turnover.
What is the "neighborhood effect" in social science research?

Local context shapes outcomes such as health, education, crime, and mobility. ZIP code predicts life outcomes through concentrated advantages/disadvantages.
What is blockbusting?

Inducing white flight by stoking fear to profit from rapid home sales. Real estate tactic exploiting racial fears for profit.
What is residential segregation?

Physical separation of groups into different neighborhoods by race or class. Creates homogeneous neighborhoods based on demographic characteristics.
What is redlining as a mechanism of residential segregation?

Denying or pricing credit/insurance by neighborhood risk, often racialized. Banks systematically denied loans to minority neighborhoods.
What is suburbanization?

Population shift from urban cores to surrounding suburbs. Post-WWII movement seeking larger homes and perceived safety.
What is residential segregation?

Physical separation of groups into different neighborhoods. Creates homogeneous communities by race, ethnicity, or class.
What is gentrification in the context of urban neighborhood change?

In-migration of higher-income residents raising costs and displacement. Often displaces long-term residents who can't afford rising rents.
What is the "exposure" or "isolation" dimension of segregation?

Likelihood that a group shares neighborhoods with itself versus others. Measures daily contact probability between different groups.
What is de jure segregation, as contrasted with de facto segregation?

Segregation enforced by laws or official policies. Jim Crow laws exemplified this form of legal separation.
What is the difference between gentrification and urban renewal?

Gentrification is market-driven; urban renewal is policy-driven. Both transform neighborhoods but through different mechanisms.
What is exclusionary zoning?

Zoning rules that limit affordable housing (e.g., large lot sizes). Maintains economic homogeneity through land-use regulations.
What is a key mechanism by which redlining produced long-term spatial inequality?

Reduced homeownership and wealth accumulation in targeted areas. Denied loans prevented property investment and intergenerational wealth.
Which option best describes the mechanism of housing segregation via zoning?

Exclusionary zoning that restricts multifamily or low-cost housing construction. Single-family-only zoning prevents affordable housing development.
What is the bid-rent theory prediction for land value near a city center?

Land value is highest near the CBD and declines with distance. Competition for central locations drives up prices near downtown.
Which option best distinguishes income inequality from spatial inequality?

Income inequality is between people; spatial inequality is between places. Individual vs. geographic distribution of resources.
What is White flight in the context of neighborhood racial change?

Departure of White residents following increased minority presence. Demographic shift that concentrated poverty in urban cores.
Which term describes segregation produced by laws or official policies?

De jure segregation. Latin for "by law" - legally mandated separation.
What is the bid-rent theory of urban land use?

Land users bid more for locations that reduce commuting and increase accessibility. Central locations command higher rents due to reduced transportation costs.
What is the concentric zone model (Burgess model) of city structure?

City grows in rings: CBD, transition, working class, residential, commuter zone. Each ring represents different socioeconomic functions radiating from center.
What is concentrated poverty as a neighborhood-level concept?

High poverty clustered in specific areas, often with limited services. Creates cumulative disadvantage through resource deprivation.
What is the "spatial mismatch" hypothesis?

Jobs move to suburbs while low-income urban residents face access barriers. Geographic disconnect between where poor people live and jobs exist.
What is steering in real estate, and how does it relate to segregation?

Guiding buyers to neighborhoods based on race, reinforcing separation. Illegal practice that perpetuates neighborhood racial composition.
What is residential segregation?

Physical separation of groups into different neighborhoods. Results from housing discrimination and socioeconomic factors.
What is the built environment in social epidemiology and urban sociology?

Human-made surroundings (housing, roads, parks) shaping behavior/health. Physical infrastructure affects walkability, safety, and access to resources.
What is the "neighborhood effect" as used in sociology?

Local context influences outcomes beyond individual traits. Place matters: same person may have different outcomes in different neighborhoods.
What is the main health-related consequence of concentrated poverty?

Higher morbidity and mortality due to chronic stress and limited access. Poverty affects healthcare access and creates toxic stress responses.
What is white flight in the context of neighborhood change?

Out-migration of White residents after increased minority presence. Accelerated suburbanization and reinforced racial segregation patterns.
What is the dissimilarity index used to quantify residential segregation?

Percent of a group that must move to achieve even distribution. Ranges 0-100; higher values indicate more segregation.
What is the "food desert" concept used to describe?

Areas with limited access to affordable, nutritious food. Geographic barriers to healthy eating options.
Identify the term for unequal school funding tied to local property taxes.

Spatial inequality in educational resources driven by property-tax base. Wealthy districts have higher property values, generating more school funding.
What is the index of dissimilarity used to measure in segregation research?

Evenness of group distribution across neighborhoods (0 = even, 1 = uneven). Measures percentage needing to move for perfect integration.
What is the "neighborhood effect" hypothesis?

Local context causally influences outcomes beyond individual traits. Place shapes outcomes through resources and exposures.
What is steering in housing discrimination?

Guiding buyers toward or away from areas based on race or ethnicity. Real estate agents illegally direct clients based on racial composition.
What is food desert as an indicator of spatial inequality?

Area with limited access to affordable, nutritious food retailers. Lack of supermarkets forces reliance on unhealthy convenience stores.
What is de facto segregation?

Segregation produced by social and economic forces without explicit laws. Results from individual choices, economics, and informal discrimination.
Identify the main mechanism by which property-tax funding can amplify spatial inequality.

Wealthier areas raise more revenue, producing better-resourced schools/services. Creates feedback loop where wealth begets better public goods.
Which policy practice most directly created racially restricted neighborhoods through property deeds?

Restrictive covenants. Legal contracts banned racial minorities from buying.
What is spatial inequality in the context of health and social outcomes?

Unequal distribution of resources and opportunities across places. Geography determines access to jobs, schools, healthcare, and services.
What is a restrictive covenant in housing history?

Contract clause barring sale or occupancy by specific groups. Legal tool used to maintain racial homogeneity in neighborhoods.
What is a food desert?

Area with limited access to affordable, nutritious food. Often in low-income urban areas lacking supermarkets but having many fast-food outlets.
What is redlining as a housing and lending practice?

Denying credit/insurance to areas deemed high risk, often minority areas. Maps literally drew red lines around "hazardous" neighborhoods to deny services.
What does the dissimilarity index measure in segregation research?

Evenness: how evenly two groups are distributed across neighborhoods. Ranges 0-100; higher values indicate greater segregation.
What is the difference between de jure and de facto segregation?

De jure is legally enforced; de facto arises from social and economic forces. De jure requires law; de facto happens without legal mandate.
What is white flight?

Large-scale departure of white residents from diversifying neighborhoods. Phenomenon accelerated by blockbusting and school integration.
Which term describes segregation produced by social and economic forces rather than laws?

De facto segregation. Latin for "in fact" - occurs without explicit legal mandate.
What is spatial inequality in the context of neighborhoods and communities?

Unequal access to resources and opportunities across geographic areas. Results from geographic disparities in services, wealth, and infrastructure.
Identify the segregation dimension captured by "exposure" measures.

Potential contact between groups within neighborhoods. Differs from evenness by focusing on interaction likelihood.
What is redlining?

Denying credit/insurance to areas labeled high risk, often minority areas. Practice that systematically excluded minorities from homeownership.
What is the neighborhood effects hypothesis?

Neighborhood conditions causally influence life outcomes. Place shapes health, education, and economic opportunities.
What is blockbusting in the history of residential segregation?

Inducing White flight to profit from panic-driven home sales. Real estate agents exploited racial fears for profit.
What is concentrated poverty?

High poverty clustered within a neighborhood, often reinforcing disadvantage. Creates cumulative disadvantages through limited resources and networks.
What is spatial inequality in a sociological context?

Unequal distribution of resources and opportunities across places. Geography determines access to jobs, schools, and services.
What is urban sprawl?

Low-density outward expansion of cities into surrounding areas. Creates car dependence and fragments natural habitats.
What is residential segregation?

Physical separation of groups into different neighborhoods. Results from housing discrimination, economics, and social preferences.
What is spatial inequality in a sociological context?

Unequal distribution of resources and opportunities across places. Geographic disparities create unequal life chances by location.
What is the "isolation" index intended to measure?

Probability a group member shares a neighborhood with same-group members. High values indicate limited intergroup contact opportunities.
What is redlining as a mechanism of residential segregation?

Denying credit or insurance to areas based on racial composition. Banks drew red lines on maps around minority neighborhoods.
What is the sector model (Hoyt model) of city structure?

City develops in wedges (sectors) along transportation routes from the CBD. Transportation corridors shape urban growth into pie-shaped sectors.
What is the spatial assimilation model of immigrant residential patterns?

Greater SES leads to moving into less segregated mainstream areas. Economic mobility enables residential mobility to better areas.
What is spatial inequality in a sociological context?

Unequal distribution of resources and opportunities across geographic areas. Geographic disparities create unequal access to jobs, schools, and services.
What is gentrification?

In-migration of higher-income residents raising costs and displacing others. Process that can reduce diversity and affordability in urban areas.
What is gentrification?

In-migration of higher-SES residents raising costs and displacing prior residents. Wealthier newcomers renovate areas, pricing out long-term residents.
What is spatial inequality in a sociological context?

Unequal distribution of resources and opportunities across locations. Geography-based disparities in access to services, wealth, and power.
Which policy most directly increased postwar suburban segregation: FHA/VA loans, or Title VI enforcement?

FHA/VA loans. Subsidized white suburban homeownership while excluding minorities.
What is redlining as a historical housing practice in the United States?

Denying credit/insurance in areas labeled high-risk, often by race. Banks drew red lines on maps around minority neighborhoods.
Identify the segregation dimension defined as the degree of physical closeness of groups.

Clustering. Measures whether minority areas are adjacent to each other.
Identify the most direct pathway linking residential segregation to health disparities.

Differential access to care and chronic exposure to stressors and pollutants. Segregated areas concentrate poverty, pollution, and limited healthcare access.
What is de jure segregation?

Segregation enforced by law or official policy. Historical examples include Jim Crow laws and apartheid systems.
Identify the key mechanism by which school funding can reflect spatial inequality in the United States.

Property-tax-based funding creates unequal school resources by area. Wealthy districts have more tax revenue for schools.
What is blockbusting?

Inducing white flight by stoking fear, then profiting from rapid home sales. Real estate agents exploited racial fears for profit through panic selling.
What is the spatial mismatch hypothesis?

Jobs move to suburbs while disadvantaged workers remain in cities. Creates employment barriers due to transportation gaps.
What is de facto segregation?

Segregation produced by social/economic forces without laws. Results from individual choices and systemic barriers.
What is gentrification?

In-migration of higher-income residents raising costs and displacement. Economic revitalization pushes out original residents.
What is concentrated poverty?

High share of residents in poverty clustered within a neighborhood. Creates cumulative disadvantages affecting health and mobility.
What is the core mechanism of spatial mismatch theory?

Jobs move away from where low-income/minority workers live. Geographic separation creates employment barriers beyond individual qualifications.
What is the "spatial mismatch" hypothesis?

Jobs move to suburbs while low-income residents remain in urban cores. Geographic separation creates barriers to employment access.
What is urban decay (urban blight)?

Deterioration of inner-city areas due to disinvestment and out-migration. Capital flight leaves infrastructure crumbling and services declining.
What is the multiple nuclei model (Harris and Ullman) of city structure?

City develops around several centers of activity rather than a single CBD. Cities evolve around multiple specialized districts, not just downtown.
What is the built environment, and why is it relevant to spatial inequality?

Human-made surroundings that shape access, exposure, and behavior. Infrastructure and design affect walkability, safety, and health.
What is white flight?

Out-migration of white residents from neighborhoods with rising minority presence. Racial transition triggers mass exodus to maintain racial homogeneity.
What value of the dissimilarity index indicates complete integration?

$0$ . Means groups are distributed identically across all areas.
What is redlining in the context of housing and lending?

Denying/raising credit in areas labeled high-risk, often by race. Banks drew red lines on maps around minority neighborhoods.
What is gentrification?

Higher-income in-migration that raises costs and can displace residents. Urban renewal that benefits newcomers while harming existing communities.
What is de jure segregation?

Segregation enforced by laws or official policies. Legal mandates historically created separate facilities and neighborhoods.
What is the fundamental cause perspective as applied to place-based health disparities?

SES provides flexible resources that protect health across risks. Money, knowledge, and power buffer health risks universally.
What is blockbusting in the context of neighborhood racial change?

Inducing white flight to profit from rapid home sales and resales. Real estate agents exploited racial fears to buy low and sell high.
What value of the dissimilarity index indicates complete segregation?

$1$ . Means groups live in entirely separate neighborhoods.
What is gentrification?

In-migration of higher-income residents raising costs and displacing others. Often displaces long-term residents who can't afford rising costs.
What is concentrated poverty?

High poverty clustered within a neighborhood over time. Creates cumulative disadvantages affecting education, health, and social mobility.
What is the "neighborhood effect" in social science research?

Local context influences outcomes beyond individual characteristics. Shows how place shapes life chances independent of personal traits.
What is white flight?

Out-migration of white residents from diversifying neighborhoods. Suburban migration accelerated after school integration.
What is de facto segregation?

Segregation produced by social and economic forces, not laws. Results from income differences, preferences, and informal discrimination.
What is a common social consequence of concentrated poverty?

Reduced social capital and fewer local institutional resources. Weak networks limit opportunities and collective efficacy.
What is environmental injustice (environmental racism) in spatial inequality?

Disproportionate pollution burdens on marginalized communities. Toxic facilities often located near minority communities due to less political power.
What is the "built environment" in public health and sociology?

Human-made surroundings shaping behavior (housing, parks, transit). Physical infrastructure affects health behaviors directly.
What is blockbusting?

Inducing White flight by stoking fear to profit from rapid home sales. Real estate tactic exploiting racial fears for financial gain.
What is de jure segregation?

Segregation enforced by laws or explicit government policies. Legal mandates create official racial/ethnic separation.
What is the place stratification model of residential segregation?

Dominant groups maintain separation via discrimination and barriers. Structural racism limits minority residential choices regardless of income.
What is the "concentration of poverty" as used in urban sociology?

High poverty clustered geographically, amplifying disadvantage. Creates cumulative disadvantage through spatial isolation.
Identify the segregation dimension defined as minority presence in the urban core rather than suburbs.

Centralization. Reflects historical patterns of inner-city minority concentration.
Which concept describes discriminatory practices by real estate agents that steer buyers to certain areas?

Housing steering. Agents show different homes based on buyer's race.
What is the "food desert" concept used to describe spatial inequality?

Area with limited access to affordable, nutritious food retailers. Low-income areas lack supermarkets, forcing reliance on convenience stores.
What is spatial inequality in the context of neighborhoods and cities?

Unequal distribution of resources and opportunities across places. Reflects how geography creates disparities in access to services, wealth, and quality of life.
Which option best defines the "spatial mismatch" hypothesis?

Jobs move to suburbs while low-income residents remain in cities. Geographic disconnect between workers and employment.
What is residential segregation?

Physical separation of groups into different neighborhoods. Results from both individual choices and structural forces that cluster groups spatially.
Which concept explains why poor transit access can reduce employment opportunities?

Spatial mismatch. Jobs become geographically inaccessible without adequate transportation.

Study these flashcards