Sub-urbanization and gentrification are two concepts that reflect part of American ideology, the American Dream. They are concepts that describe housing patterns and neighborhood development as well as evoke images of success, failure, and the opportunity structure. On the other hand, the fact that most of the nation’s poor are living in the suburbs, that gentrification reduces the amount of affordable housing available in urban areas, and that these phenomena exacerbate patterns of segregation are issues not widely discussed.
Identify and discuss three different factors that contribute to current trends in sub-urbanization, gentrification, and residential segregation in American society today. (At least one social factor must be structural.)
Which factors do you find most significant and which most difficult to change? Do these factors apply to everyone in society or just certain groups or specific geographic regions? Draw on at least two theories you learned this semester as well as information from academic/peer reviewed resources to develop an explanation for this emergent trend.
Sample Solution
