Social Phenomena as Drivers of Urban Inequalities: An Analysis

This essay examines the multifaceted nature of urban inequalities, arguing that they arise from a complex interplay of social phenomena rather than solely from property values. It highlights how inequalities manifest in access to housing, services, safety, and security, emphasizing the importance of analyzing the entire social system. The essay delves into the role of poverty, shaped by resource inadequacies and limited access to opportunities like education, as a key driver of inequality. It further explores the influence of societal values, norms, and socio-economic status on decisions related to employment, healthcare, and housing choices, leading to geographical segregation and suburbanization. The analysis concludes that urban inequalities are likely to persist due to globalization and knowledge alterations, underscoring the need for mitigation strategies rooted in understanding these underlying social causes. Desklib provides access to similar essays and study tools for students.

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Running head: URBAN INEQUALITIES
Urban Inequalities
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URBAN INEQUALITIES
Urban Inequalities
Inequalities can be found in all urban areas across the globe. Urban inequality can be
summed up as the extreme differences that exist within an urban population in terms of wealth
and poverty. The differences can be noted in regards to the capacity of individuals to access
various resources such as housing and education. The implications or urban inequalities result in
society-wide implications more so in relation to the quality of life lived. It is for this reason that
tremendous efforts and resources have been channeled towards determining the causes of urban
inequality, as one way of developing mitigation strategies (Musterd, 2005, p.5). For some
thinkers and scholars, urban inequalities come about as a result of property in urban land. In
other words, they assert that differential property rates form the basis of differences in wealth
and power within the society. This write-up on the other hand, argues for the fact that urban
inequalities come about as a result of a multiplicity of various social phenomena rather than
property in urban land.
From this point of view, therefore, urban inequalities arise out of interacting social
factors within a given urban environment. This perspective places the issue of inequality within
its context to allow for comprehensive understanding of the challenge at hand. Urban inequalities
come about as a result of day to day interactions and transactions. Urban inequalities entail
differences in access to housing, services as well as aspects of safety and security. This means
analyzing the entirety of the system rather than focusing on city plans (Burgers and Musterd,
2002, p.7) Inequality bears racial, ethnic, historical connotations which means it cannot be tied
down to a single causative factor such as the property rates and planning. Understanding urban
inequality means analyzing poverty and its causes (O'connor, Tilly, and Bobo, 2001, p.71) To
this extent, it means that one has to understand how poverty comes about within a given society.

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Poverty, ideally revolves around resource inadequacies which limit a person’s access to
opportunities and services.
A good example is the inability to access proper education. This further limits an
individual’s access to opportunities throughout their lifetime. For instance, in most cases it
becomes a major obstacle in terms of gaining entry into jobs as well as better payment scales.
Such differences in income and education ultimately result in the differences in housing demand,
with people seeking to find shelter and settlement in areas they can afford. Another way of
understanding the onset of urban inequality is by focusing on the values systems within a given
society. This means analyzing the motivations, norms and factors that a society observes in its
daily interactions. Wealth and power are some of the most celebrated tenets in most societies, in
this case therefore, a great deal of efforts and resources are directed towards amassing wealth and
gaining power in society (Bobo and Massagli, 2001, p.9). Daily activities and interactions are
thus made up of actions and efforts aimed at enhancing, covering, or transcending various classes
of the status quo.
When analyzed from the context of urban inequality, decisions and actions that are made
in relation to socio-economic status within a society also influence the prevalence of inequality.
In other words, decisions such as employment opportunities or access to healthcare are
influenced by an individual’s socio-economic standing within the society (Jargowsky, 2002,
p18). To put this example into context one would focus on the choice of housing between the
rich and the poor. The rich will prefer to stay within neighborhoods that reflect their status. This
then leaves the poor confined to neighborhoods that they can afford (Parker, 2010, p.21). This
results in differences in geographical placement and planning decisions. Suburbanization is
another major factor that can be considered when attempting to define urban inequality. As cities

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expand, the emergent areas become more attractive resulting in a major shift from the inner city
towards to the robust new areas.
Conclusively, it is evident that urban inequalities are likely to rise even as knowledge
alterations and globalization continue to take root across the globe. While this paper strives to
establish the root cause of its existence, it is does not offer solutions to how it can be minimized.
It is clear that urban inequality has far reaching implications for the well-being of the society.
The importance of understanding the root cause of urban inequality is that it provides the right
footing in regards to the development of mitigation strategies. Having understood the fact that
social phenomena are the root causes of urban inequality, there is a need to engage in discussions
regarding some of the approaches that can be established to combat the growing social menace.

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References
Bobo, L.D. and Massagli, M.P., 2001. Stereotyping and urban inequality. Urban inequality:
Evidence from four cities, pp.89-162.
Burgers, J. and Musterd, S., 2002. Understanding urban inequality: a model based on existing
theories and an empirical illustration. International Journal of Urban and Regional
Research, 26(2), pp.403-413.
Jargowsky, Paul A. (2002). "Sprawl, concentration of poverty, and urban inequality." Urban
sprawl: Causes, consequences, and policy responses 39-72.
Musterd, S., 2005. Social and ethnic segregation in Europe: levels, causes, and effects. Journal
of urban affairs, 27(3), pp.331-348.
O'connor, A., Tilly, C. and Bobo, L. eds., 2001. Urban inequality: Evidence from four cities.
Russell Sage Foundation.
Parker, K. F. (2010). Unequal crime decline: Theorizing race, urban inequality, and criminal
violence. New York: New York University Press.