Housing and Social Stratification

Residential segregation is the process by which people are assigned to different housing based on their social class. This can be done through a variety of mechanisms, such as zoning laws, redlining, and mortgage discrimination.

Hypersegregation is a type of residential segregation in which a particular group is highly concentrated in a small number of neighborhoods. This can lead to a variety of negative consequences, such as social isolation, economic disadvantage, and poor health.

Gentrification is the process by which a neighborhood becomes more affluent and expensive. This can be caused by a variety of factors, such as an influx of new residents, an increase in property values, or the development of new businesses.

Gentrification can lead to the displacement of low-income residents, as they are often unable to afford the rising costs of housing. This can have a variety of negative consequences, such as homelessness, poverty, and social isolation.

Redlining is the practice of denying mortgages to people in certain neighborhoods, typically based on the racial or ethnic composition of the neighborhood. This practice was widespread in the United States in the 20th century and had a devastating impact on African American communities.

All of the above are types of housing discrimination. Housing discrimination is illegal in the United States under the Fair Housing Act of 1968.

White flight is the process by which people move out of a neighborhood due to the influx of a new group of people, typically African Americans. This phenomenon was widespread in the United States in the 20th century and contributed to the segregation of cities.

Residential segregation can lead to a variety of negative consequences, including increased social isolation, economic disadvantage, and poor health.

Integration is the process by which a neighborhood becomes more diverse. This can happen through a variety of mechanisms, such as the influx of new residents from different racial or ethnic groups, or the construction of new housing that is affordable to people from different income levels.

Integration can lead to a variety of benefits, including increased social cohesion, reduced crime, and improved economic opportunities.

Economic segregation is the process by which people are assigned to different housing based on their income. This can be done through a variety of mechanisms, such as zoning laws, redlining, and mortgage discrimination.

Income segregation, wealth segregation, and asset segregation are all types of economic segregation. Income segregation is the separation of people based on their income, wealth segregation is the separation of people based on their wealth, and asset segregation is the separation of people based on their assets.

Impoverishment is the process by which a neighborhood becomes more poor. This can be caused by a variety of factors, such as the loss of jobs, the influx of low-income residents, or the deterioration of housing.

Impoverishment can lead to a variety of negative consequences, including increased crime, poor health, and social isolation.

Racial segregation is the process by which people are assigned to different housing based on their race or ethnicity. This can be done through a variety of mechanisms, such as zoning laws, redlining, and mortgage discrimination.