Question 1

In Streetwise: Race, Class, and Change in an Urban Community, Anderson studied gentrification in two Philadelphia communities.The housing renovations and increase in upscale neighborhood shopping increased real estate values.The downside of these developments was that…

Accepted Answer

Anderson found that the improvements in the communities, such as housing renovations and upscale neighborhood shopping, led to an increase in real estate values. However, this also resulted in the displacement of the original low-income residents who could no longer afford to live there. This is a common negative consequence of gentrification. The other options of A and D are not supported by Anderson's findings, and option B is not a clear negative consequence of gentrification.

Question 2

Sharon Zukin studied how the area of cast-iron buildings in SoHo became designated as an "artist district" for "historic preservation and the arts," and thus preserved from destruction.She argues that this…

Accepted Answer

Sharon Zukin argues that the designation of SoHo as an "artist district" for preservation and the arts did not mean that culture triumphed over capitalism. Rather, she suggests that the preservation of the district would be used for its economic growth, and ultimately development would still drive the transformation of the area. Therefore, choice C is the best answer.

Question 3

In her book Naked City, Zukin argues that Jane Jacobs did not give sufficient attention to…

Accepted Answer

In Naked City, Zukin argues that Jacobs did not adequately address the role of financial institutions and real estate companies in shaping urban development and gentrification. She argues that these actors have significant power in directing capital towards already prosperous neighborhoods, which helps to drive up property values and displace lower-income residents. Zukin also critiques Jacobs' focus on informal social control, arguing that this perspective neglects the ways in which power and inequality shape urban life.

Question 4

Zukin argues that people's appetite for "authenticity" is the force that destroys…

Accepted Answer

According to Zukin, people's desire for authenticity often leads to the commodification of "authentic places," thereby erasing the diverse character that made them authentic in the first place. This process contributes to the homogenization of neighborhoods and cityscapes, resulting in the destruction of cultural diversity.

Question 5

Solnit argues that gentrification in San Francisco…

Accepted Answer

Solnit argues that gentrification in San Francisco transformed the whole city, not just some areas. She notes that the "tech boom" and influx of wealthy professionals have led to skyrocketing housing prices, displacement of long-time residents, and changes in the city's culture and character. She does not argue that gentrification revitalized the city, had no effect on its economic health, or prioritized historic preservation over economic growth.

Question 6

Solnit suggests that as the artists who helped create the city's culture are forced out in the second step of gentrification, San Francisco becomes a "Hollow City," because…

Accepted Answer

Solnit argues that the forced displacement of artists in the second stage of gentrification results in the city becoming "a theme park of its former self," where the creative energy and unique culture that drew people to the city in the first place is replaced by a sanitized, inauthentic version designed to appeal to tourists and affluent residents. This would result in a "hollow city" that lacks the vibrancy and diversity that made it a desirable place to live and visit.

Question 7

Hutter notes the irony that San Francisco and its public realm are being destroyed by…

Accepted Answer

Hutter notes the irony that San Francisco, a city known for its progressive values and tolerance, is now being destroyed by the wealth of the tech industry and its accompanying gentrification.

Question 8

Social scientists and others noted that in the 1980s…

Accepted Answer

Social scientists and others noted that in the 1980s, there were increasing numbers of homeless people in America's cities. This led to the development of new policies and programs aimed at addressing homelessness, such as the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. While homelessness did decrease somewhat in the 1990s, it reemerged as a significant social problem in the early 2000s.

Question 9

Talmadge Wright's analysis of homelessness differs from many others in that he…

Accepted Answer

Talmadge Wright's analysis focuses on the ways in which homeless individuals resist and combat factors leading to their homelessness. He highlights their agency and ability to establish a place for themselves, rather than viewing them as passive victims.

Question 10

In his research on homelessness, Wright examines the connections among the social construction of space, redevelopment visions, and homeless identities.This leads him to argue that…

Accepted Answer

Wright's research shows that homelessness is not just a matter of social welfare policy, but it is also linked to land use policies, redevelopment visions, and the ideas of those in power about what a city should look like and who it should include. Therefore, choice C is the most accurate statement. Choice A is incorrect because redevelopment policies often prioritize certain groups over others, leading to displacement of marginalized communities, including the homeless. Choice B is also incorrect because while social welfare policies do play a role in addressing homelessness, it is only part of a larger systemic issue.

Question 11

In their research, Snow and Anderson found the vast majority of homeless people were adaptive, resourceful, and pragmatic, leading them to argue that…

Accepted Answer

Snow and Anderson found that homeless people were adaptive, resourceful, and pragmatic, indicating that their homelessness was largely due to the situations they found themselves in, such as poverty, lack of affordable housing, or unemployment, rather than innate character weaknesses or disabilities. This suggests that societal and systemic factors play a large role in the prevalence of homelessness rather than individual factors.

Question 12

In summarizing the causes of homelessness in America, Hutter suggests that government redevelopment policies, land-use policies, and weakened and overburdened social networks all contribute to and exacerbate the main causal factor, which…

Accepted Answer

Hutter suggests that poverty is the main causal factor of homelessness in America and that government policies and weakened social networks contribute to and exacerbate it. Substance abuse and character weaknesses are not identified as primary causes by Hutter, and while the causes may vary by city, Hutter's overall analysis focuses on systemic factors that affect homelessness on a national level.

Question 13

Snow and Anderson provided convincing evidence that…

Accepted Answer

Snow and Anderson's research found that the homeless are pragmatic, adaptive, and highly resourceful, which contradicts the negative stereotypes of laziness, a desire to be homeless, and mental illness/drug addiction.

Question 14

Hutter suggests that ghettos and enclaves are fundamentally the same.

Accepted Answer

Hutter suggests that ghettos and enclaves, while both are forms of urban ethnic concentrations, differ fundamentally in terms of choice and constraint. Ghettos are often formed due to social, economic, and political pressures and constraints, whereas enclaves are formed by choice, where people of similar ethnic backgrounds choose to live together for cultural and social support.

Question 15

The Chicago School saw the ghetto as a stage in the assimilation process of immigrant groups.

Accepted Answer

The Chicago School, a group of sociologists and scholars from the University of Chicago in the early 20th century, viewed the ghetto as a stage in the assimilation process of immigrant groups. They believed that immigrants lived in enclaves or ghettos as a result of their lack of resources and social networks, but over time, they would assimilate and integrate into the mainstream culture.

Question 16

Industrialization broke up traditional kinship ties and destroyed the interdependence of the family and community of urban immigrants in the early twentieth century.

Accepted Answer

Industrialization did change the structure and dynamics of family and community life, but it did not completely destroy traditional kinship ties or the interdependence of family and community among urban immigrants. Instead, many immigrant communities adapted by forming ethnic neighborhoods and mutual aid societies to maintain their cultural ties and support each other in the new urban environment.

Question 17

There is no connection between the policies and processes that created a largely White suburbia after WWII and the intensification of African American ghettos.

Accepted Answer

The policies and processes that created a largely White suburbia after WWII were often discriminatory, with institutionalized racism preventing African Americans from purchasing homes in these areas. This led to a concentration of African Americans in urban areas, which were often neglected by city governments and resources were redirected to suburban areas. Therefore, there is a clear connection between the two phenomena.

Question 18

Deliberate government policies, in conjunction with institutional discrimination practices of private real-estate investors, bankers, and businesses to segregate the African American community, led to the creation and continuation of the African American ghetto.

Accepted Answer

Deliberate government policies such as redlining, urban renewal, and restrictive covenants, along with discriminatory practices of private institutions, led to the creation of African American ghettos in many cities in the United States. These policies and practices limited African Americans' access to housing, jobs, and opportunities, which perpetuated segregation and created areas of concentrated poverty and crime.

Question 19

Many Latinos are poor and disadvantaged, as are many African Americans, and both groups experience hypersegregation.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Many Latinos are poor and disadvantaged, as...

Question 20

In designing large housing projects, architects should take the needs of the residents into account.

Accepted Answer

Architects should prioritize the needs of the residents when designing housing projects in order to create safe, comfortable and accessible living spaces. This includes considering factors such as community spaces, accessibility for those with disabilities or limited mobility, and adequate storage space. Architects who prioritize the beneficiaries’ way of living can design homes that everyone can enjoy, and ultimately help build stronger, healthier and more sustainable communities.

Quiz 11: Urban Communities and Social Policies