Merriam Webster defines Gentrification as, “the process of renewal and rebuilding accompanying the influx of middle-class or affluent people into deteriorating areas that often displaces poorer residents”. On Urban Dictionary, where users can submit their own definitions of words, one person believes gentrification is “When a bunch of white people move to the ghetto and open up a bunch of cupcake shops”, while another definition from the same site states Gentrification is ,“a racist term used by hispanics to express displeasure over having a white person living near them”. The term gentrification was coined by Ruth Glass in 1964 as she described the displacement of London’s working class residents caused by middle class newcomers (Glass, 1964).
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Yet, these opinions hold less weight for the actual people affected by gentrification. Academic papers discussing the pros and cons of gentrification simply won’t reach most of the public, while companies, and people who did not grow up in the affected area will not have nearly the same amount of influence and pull as the local organizations and leaders. Firstly, it is not that difficult to find an academic paper that thoroughly considers the advantages and disadvantages to gentrification. However, it is difficult to stumble upon one if you are not writing a paper on the topic. A local resident is unlikely to look outside their window one day and see a crowd of professors shouting about the long term benefits or inevitability of gentrification. There are plenty of arguments to be made for things such as an increase in safety, tax revenue, and things like tourism. Peter Byrne writes that despite the negative connotation many people hold with “gentrification,” many residents can benefit from its effects. He argues the primary problem people associated with gentrification, which is displacement of residents, is a result of the failings of government to provide affordable housing and not gentrification directly (Byrne, 2002). Meanwhile, in 1983 Schill and Nathan conducted surveys of displaced residents from gentrifying neighborhoods and found that displaced residents did not …show more content…
While the discussion over what the government should and should not do in order to combat gentrification, shows the various levels of severity in which people view the problem, even when a group agrees it is a social problem that warrants action. Due to the fact that the protests around gentrification involve protecting a rich culture or history, it is an easy news story for local media. Because the issue of gentrification often involves race and socioeconomic divides, it can make for an even better story. The internet also serves a role in spreading a local message to a national level. Loseke claims our postmodern world is a mediated world. Mediated meaning “through the media” (Loseke, 1999). According to Loseke, we must rely more and more on others to alert and inform us. When the media reports on protests by local community members, it helps bring the awareness of gentrification outside of the community to people who may not be directly affected by the issue. Furthermore, as people can see the different protests, it is clear that while the issue of gentrification affects each community differently and on a local level, it is present in many communities around the U.S and this helps many people decide the issue of gentrification is widespread and growing. While
Yet, these opinions hold less weight for the actual people affected by gentrification. Academic papers discussing the pros and cons of gentrification simply won’t reach most of the public, while companies, and people who did not grow up in the affected area will not have nearly the same amount of influence and pull as the local organizations and leaders. Firstly, it is not that difficult to find an academic paper that thoroughly considers the advantages and disadvantages to gentrification. However, it is difficult to stumble upon one if you are not writing a paper on the topic. A local resident is unlikely to look outside their window one day and see a crowd of professors shouting about the long term benefits or inevitability of gentrification. There are plenty of arguments to be made for things such as an increase in safety, tax revenue, and things like tourism. Peter Byrne writes that despite the negative connotation many people hold with “gentrification,” many residents can benefit from its effects. He argues the primary problem people associated with gentrification, which is displacement of residents, is a result of the failings of government to provide affordable housing and not gentrification directly (Byrne, 2002). Meanwhile, in 1983 Schill and Nathan conducted surveys of displaced residents from gentrifying neighborhoods and found that displaced residents did not …show more content…
While the discussion over what the government should and should not do in order to combat gentrification, shows the various levels of severity in which people view the problem, even when a group agrees it is a social problem that warrants action. Due to the fact that the protests around gentrification involve protecting a rich culture or history, it is an easy news story for local media. Because the issue of gentrification often involves race and socioeconomic divides, it can make for an even better story. The internet also serves a role in spreading a local message to a national level. Loseke claims our postmodern world is a mediated world. Mediated meaning “through the media” (Loseke, 1999). According to Loseke, we must rely more and more on others to alert and inform us. When the media reports on protests by local community members, it helps bring the awareness of gentrification outside of the community to people who may not be directly affected by the issue. Furthermore, as people can see the different protests, it is clear that while the issue of gentrification affects each community differently and on a local level, it is present in many communities around the U.S and this helps many people decide the issue of gentrification is widespread and growing. While