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A Final Reflection

I have lived in a city, whether New York, London, or Philadelphia, my entire life. Taking this class has allowed me to both reflect on my own experiences in the city, as well as critique urban culture. Throughout the semester, we have looked at the factors which brought about an urban way of life, sociological approaches to explaining the city, and urban lifestyles. We have also studied how a variety of ills, such as poverty, crime, and segregation, are present and reproduced in urban environments. 

While trying to reflect on this semester in Urban Sociology, the piece of work that sticks out to me the most is the interactive Washington Post article on “Africa’s Rising Cities.” Firstly, I thought the piece itself was incredibly well done, with interactive and multimedia elements really helping to tell the story. But also, when thinking of cities, I think the vast majority tends to think of an urban metropolis and center of financial and social activity, like New York, London, or Tokyo. However, this Washington Post article highlighted the reality of five less-developed cities in Africa, but which are on the rise to be the world’s largest cities by the end of the century. This piece truly highlighted the difference in urbanization patterns, and how developing countries are the future of growth. It is interesting, and slightly nerve-wracking, to envision a world in which Lagos is the most populated city, and what measures will be put in place for the city to be able to support its rapidly increasing population. Today, Lagos is growing with no plan for its future. As we have learned throughout the semester, there are many potential ramifications of urbanization. So, it is essential that Lagos develop a plan in order to be equipped to accommodate its population growth, and be prepared for the next generation of urban life.

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Experiences in Urban India

Over the past two weeks, our conversations surrounding urbanization in less developed countries has left me reflecting on my family trips to South Africa and India. In Africa, the only city we visited was Cape Town, but we had an opportunity to visit a township somewhere on the outskirts. I remember going into some of the homes and playing with the children. This village reminded me of the African slums we spoke about in class, which ⅔ of African urban dwellers live in.

A few years after our trip to Africa, my family traveled to India, which was perhaps the most interesting place I have ever been. I remember walking off the plane our first day in Delhi, I felt as though I had been transported to a different world. The sky was so hazy and I remember our hotel having signs in the lobby showing what the daily air quality was like. We walked through the Chandni Chowk markets, which is exactly like what was depicted in class, with a busying maze of different alleys lined with stalls and vendors. We rode in a rickshaw through this area, and I had to grip my dad’s arm to keep from falling out as the driver weaved in and out of the traffic of the city. I remember, at one point, our tour guide leading us to cross through the middle of a very busy street. My family and I were all shocked and afraid to cross, but this was the normal in Old Delhi – walking through the middle of the street, even if there was a large sidewalk.

On both of these trips, but especially in India, I really felt the juxtaposition of the “first” and “third” worlds. Here we American tourists were, staying in nice hotels, drinking only food from hotels and bottled water, and traveling through these developing nations with our tour guide. India was absolutely incredible; it was like nowhere I had been before and was eye-opening to see how starkly different the way people here lived. But, it is definitely alarming to think about how these cities, particularly Delhi, will be able to keep up with the rapid population growth it is facing. Learning about urbanization of these less developed countries in class is one thing, but to have it so confirmed by my previous experiences just makes me feel even more at odds with the future of places like India and Africa, and my role as a tourist.

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Maquiladoras

In class on Thursday, we discussed maquiladoras and almost no one in our class had heard of these before. Interestingly enough, a few hours later, I was in my Multinational Management class discussing a case on Special Economic Zones and Tax Havens. In that class, we have been studying taxes and how large corporations with subsidiaries across different countries skirt around the rules to legally pay as little in taxes as possible. It was super interesting to me that, first of all, I had never heard of a maquiladora and here I was discussing them in two separate classes on the very same day. But, I was also interested in how the same concept was covered in these two very different classes and contexts. In Urban Sociology, maquiladoras were discussed in the context of poverty increasing, but inequality increasing at even higher rates in the 1980s and 90s. These maquiladoras lent themselves to shantytowns surrounding the plants with unhealthy water and sewage systems and high crime rates. Meanwhile, in Multinational Management, maquiladoras were discussed as “the rapid economic growth of the border region [indicating] the powerful impact that could be created by SEZs.”

In Management, we discussed the 1.2 million jobs created as a result of these maquiladoras, accounting for 43% of Mexico’s exports. In Sociology, we discussed the 1.6 million maquiladora workers living in unhealthy conditions.

The stark difference in language used to describe maquiladoras, as well as the differences in implications discussed, served as a true reminder of how at odds capitalism can be with equality.

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Reflecting on Zoom University

Yesterday’s class on “Cities and COVID” made me reflect on my experience with pandemic schooling. I vividly remember the onset of COVID. Throughout the month of February 2020, there would repeatedly be COVID jokes thrown about, with any wintry cough eliciting a “maybe you have COVID!” At that point, we knew nothing about the virus or what the next few months would have in store. Leaving campus for Freshman spring break marked the first time I felt fully secure in my place at Penn. Acclimating during the fall was a little tough for me, and each time I had to leave home to return to Penn (after going home for the Jewish holidays, Fall break, Thanksgiving, etc) it felt as though I were starting over. However, by the time spring break rolled around, I felt very content. I had found a solid friend group, had just joined a sorority, and thought one week of rest was perfect, before coming back to campus for the exciting Spring ahead. I said goodbye to my friends, expecting to return right back to the Ashurst lounge one week later. When I found out that Harvard made the decision to cancel school for the remainder of the year, I was absolutely shocked. How could they possibly make such a big decision, so early on? Sure enough, our own email came just three days later, making the murmurings and rumors legitimized.

Freshman spring immediately got moved online. Instead of the fun college St. Patrick’s day I had been anticipating, I found myself sitting in my empty Quad room on March 17th, rapidly retrieving all of my belongings. It definitely felt strange to finish the semester online, but since I already knew my professors and the content, it was easier to pick up and finish the remaining few weeks. In contrast, I found sophomore year, where we were completely online, to be much more isolating and difficult. Not being able to meet my professors on the first day of class, form relationships, and get to understand their teaching styles made it much harder to connect and stay engaged throughout the semester. Just as Hess and Noguera expressed during “A Search for Common Ground,” I feel as though I was more focused on completing assignments than actually learning and retaining knowledge during the semesters of online school. Additionally, I found it very difficult to remain connected to peers, and carrying out group projects was nearly impossible, with teammates scattered across the globe – I literally had one group where one member was in LA and another in China. While reflecting, I think one of the most difficult parts was that each professor had different policies and implementations, which made it even harder to adapt to multiple styles of online learning and protocols, rather than one across the board. As Hess and Noguera said, schooling is about more than just content mastery; building social relations and finding mentors is just as important. However, during the semesters of completely virtual school, it was nearly impossible to have these peer-to-peer touchpoints, making everything feel that much more isolating and lonely.

Just as difficult as it was to adapt to online school, I then became worried about how I would be able to transition back to in-person learning. As difficult as it was to stay engaged during an hour and a half Zoom lecture, I also could not imagine going back to a classroom where I wouldn’t be able to just pick up my phone when I got bored or have all of my notes alongside me during an exam. And, transitioning back did indeed prove difficult. I had only had one full semester of college in-person, and found myself as a first semester Freshman once again, needing to remember how to participate in college lectures and how to operate the printers in Huntsman. Again, what made things even more difficult was the inconsistency in teachers’ approaches to returning to the classroom. Some professors continued giving asynchronous assignments, while others leaned fully into the in-person. Even now, a full two semesters removed from Zoom school, I am finding some professors hang on to some practices they picked up during Covid that they found to be more effective, like take home exams or virtual office hours.

At this point, I think it is safe to say that we are “on the other side” of COVID. Despite the difficulties of learning during the pandemic, there were also some merits to virtual instruction, some of which have stuck around even as we have returned to in-person. I am curious, as we move further and further beyond our days on Zoom, which practices will continue to stick, and which will slowly evolve back to the “pre-pandemic normal.”

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86th Street: A Community of Strangers?

While watching Whose Barrio?, one particular quote stood out to me. As he was talking about mom and pop stores being driven out by higher rents, Jose Rivera said, “so this becomes like 86th street, a community of strangers where no one talks to anybody, no one knows anybody, there are no relationships, no ones anchored to the community, that’s sad.” The reason this anecdote particularly piqued my interest is because I live on 86th street, and have considered that street my home since moving there when I was 9 years old. Hearing a documentary about gentrification mention the very street I grew up on as a “community of strangers” really made me reflect on my upbringing and the accuracy of this quote. My apartment building rests on the corner of 86th street and Lexington Avenue, right on top of the 4/5/6 station and a stone’s throw from big-box stores like Best Buy, Staples, Sephora, H&M, and Barnes & Noble (now replaced by Target). For my 12th birthday party, I did a scavenger hunt with my friends within the few blocks radius of my apartment, and there were 6 CVS/Duane Reade’s within 2 blocks in each direction. Placed at such a commercial and busy intersection, it is true that I have little interaction with the people surrounding me. My parents used to not even let me walk alone on 86th Street, basically warding me off from any possibility at creating that communal feel. I think this is exactly what Jose was getting at with his statement: having these larger stores as opposed to smaller, family-run businesses ruins any chance of creating a community and relationships. He is using 86th street as an example of larger, less-personal interactions, which is the direction he is afraid El Barrio is turning towards, as rising rents make it harder for mom and pop stores to stay afloat.

Though the street is made up of these larger stores where it would be harder to create a community feeling, we do still have newsstands and New York’s classic peanut carts scattered about each corner. I feel guilty to have never made an effort to build a relationship with any of these people in my neighborhood. I do feel as though I know a good number of neighbors in my apartment building, and have relationships with my doormen and am often even greeted by name when I walk into my Staples on 87th street. However, reflecting upon Jose’s remark from Whose Barrio?, I am saddened to think that he is correct; and that I am still a stranger in the place which I have called my home for over 10 years. This proves the necessity of retaining the identity of a place like El Barrio, where residents have lived from childhood to adulthood and Jose can wave to everyone as he walks down the street. Though developers may think they are improving the neighborhood, it is important to remember the type of rich history and personal bonds a neighborhood may contain, and to weigh this alongside decisions of gentrification.

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From Melting Pot to Cultural Pluralism: Reframing how Cities, Immigration, and Diversity Interact

In class yesterday, we spoke about the “Majority Minority” and the narrative that the United States will soon have a minority population over 50%. While I’ve heard of this concept in the past, I feel as though I’ve only heard it referred to positively. In other classes and press I’ve read, the Majority Minority has represented the growth of the United States and how the country has become welcoming of minorities, and allowed these groups to hold a growing presence in the makeup of the country. So, I was a little surprised when we looked at this concept with a critical lens. Firstly, the idea that the “Majority Minority” has such a narrow definition of ‘minority’ complicates this theory and makes it a bit problematic. If anyone with a mixed background is counted as “exclusively nonwhite,” then the number of minorities will be inflated, and perhaps not an accurate representation of how people self-identify. Secondly, the video of Richard Alba exposed an interesting viewpoint of this Majority Minority narrative. In the video, Alba spoke about how the growing number of non-whites may lead to racial resentment and white people feeling a loss in their societal positions, and in turn, cause whites to become more politically conservative. He explains how this is an unhealthy framework by which to view social changes, and is divisive for society. After watching this video for a second time at home, I am not quite sure of my stance with respect to the Majority Minority. Though I think it should signal positive social change that minorities are gaining more presence in population, I agree that this ignores the many people who have mixed racial backgrounds and am not quite sure how that fact is rectified, especially while thinking of the potential ramifications from white racial resentment.

Similarly, we spoke about the difference between a melting pot versus cultural pluralism. Again, a melting pot is something that I have always heard positively referred to throughout history classes in middle and high school, referring to the way in which cities have welcomed immigrants from all different backgrounds and allowed them to assimilate into culture. Specifically, I have heard New York called a melting pot, for it contains so many different cultural groups, races, and ethnicities. However, in class, we raised an issue with this concept: in a melting pot, everything mixes and blends together as one. Rather, cultural pluralism represents a “mixed salad,” in which minorities fully participate in society, but are able to retain their own cultural identities. I think this is a much more inclusive framework, and a better way to look at cities, immigration, and diversity. I wonder if schools now teach cultural pluralism as opposed to melting pots, and how the rhetoric surrounding immigration and diversity, specifically in schools and history classes, might change and further evolve.

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A Decades-Long American Dilemma

The past two classes on diversity and segregation have left me with a lot of lingering thoughts. One concept I have specifically dwelled on is Gunnar Myrdal’s idea of the “American Dilemma.” The American Dilemma conveys the contradiction between American ideals of liberty and freedom, and the struggle of social inequality and the inhumane treatment of African Americans. At the core of America’s founding is the philosophy of equality and freedom, and yet, these ideals are not seen in practice. Although America has made strides against inequality since Myrdal’s publishing in 1944, interpreting the Black-White Dissimilarity Index in Douglas Massey’s 2020 article Still the Linchpin: Segregation and Stratification in the USA made it clear how much of an issue segregation remains today, and how much work still needs to be done. I am left upset and confused; how, centuries later, can we still be so segregated? After all of the work that has been done through the Civil Rights Movement and the decades since, how does is it that the dilemma which existed in 1944 is still relevant today? Furthermore, what can I, as a white girl at a prestigious university in the Northeast, add to this conversation that would be more effective than the work of leaders before my time? I don’t think Americans should accept segregation, simply because that is the way things “have been” and there’s “nothing we can do about it.” But, at the same time, I am unsure of how I, as an individual, can possibly make an impact in combatting the larger nation-wide issue. This is a dynamic that needs reconciliation, both in the context of segregation and many other social issues: how to contribute to a solution when you as an individual do not feel as though your small voice can lead to change.

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Camp: The Ultimate Defended Neighborhood

Within the four categories of local communities, the defended neighborhood is described as an area that residents feel is their turf; a place where they feel safe and secure. To me, summer camp is the epitome of a defended neighborhood. While not an official neighborhood recognized by the government, the idyllic haven provided by summer camp offers the most close knit local community I could ever imagine. I attended sleepaway camp in Maine for nine summers, beginning when I was seven years old. We often referred to camp as a “bubble” in that it was a place we could escape to for seven weeks each year and be completely unplugged from the outside world. We spent our days dressed in absurd costumes, cheering on our teammates during a game of soccer; waterskiing atop a lake of glass; sitting around the bunk braiding one another’s hair; jumping up and down in the dining hall, screaming cheers at the top of our lungs. Camp was a place where I felt most at home, where I could be my truest self and least inhibited self free from the worries of the “real” world. Campers and counselors alike assumed close quarters, making us neighbors with a high degree of security and comfort. Everyone knew one another, no matter if you were 8 or 15 years old. Unfortunately, I got too old for camp and had to leave this defended neighborhood I had grown up in and become so comfortable with. I aspire to find another defended neighborhood in my life; another community in which I feel so safe, secure, and “me.”

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Reflecting on my Personal Urbanism

I have always prided myself upon being a true born-and-bred “New Yorker,” but I don’t think it was until I started college that I truly understood how much of an impact the place I grew up in had on my personal development and current characteristics.

During my freshman fall, I remember having a hard time connecting to some of my peers because of the differences in how we spent our free time. I was used to the independence that came along with living in a big city, wanting to explore my new home of Philadelphia. Many of my new friends, who grew up in the suburbs, wanted to stay in one of our dorm rooms and watch a movie.

I was used to my fast-paced life and had a hard time juggling wanting to make new friends with my antsy-ness that stemmed from being in sweatpants in the Quad for too long. At the time, I felt as though I was perhaps more mature, less lazy, or more curious than my counterparts.

However, thinking about this experience in relation to our class session this week on Urban Cultures and Lifestyles, I recognize that my personality is a direct output of “Urbanism as a way of life.”

Just as Wirth wrote about in his essay, the city created a distinct way in which I live my life, reflected in how I dress, what I consider worthy of achieving, what I enjoy doing in my free time, and who I choose to surround myself with. Another key component of Wirth’s theory is that he found urbanism to be socially destructive. Applying this concept to my own experiences with friends, I understand how an output of my urbanistic lifestyle has led me to sometimes be at odds with others.

Rather, I have tried to use my urbanism as a way to further foster relationships, and not as a means to destroy them. I recognize that I can be a harsh critic and speak transparently, but I try to turn this into being an honest friend. My need for control has manifested itself into my being an ultra-planner, always taking the lead on group plans to counteract my last-minute peers.

I have always known that New York City has had an impact on who I am today, but this class has given me a new perspective from which to view many components of my personality, and actual theories which explain some of my characteristics.

I am also thinking about this in relation to the definitions of urban lifestyles outlined by Gans. Although these groups most definitely do not provide a complete picture of the urban landscape, of the four categories outlined, I would likely file myself into “unmarried or childless.” One component of this group of people is that they thrive on urban life, and do not exhibit the consequences of “urbanism as a way of life.” Is this true? Have I managed to evade the detriments of living in a big city, despite being a native?

I have never once resented my urban upbringing, and continuously recognize how incredibly fortunate my quality of life has been. As I move forward in this world, I aspire to pay more attention to the ways in which the effects of urbanism manifest in my daily life, both positively and negatively, and in those around me, to continue to grapple with this struggle between urban ills versus thriving on a fast-paced urban life.

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Giving Back to the Community

This weekend marked the 21st anniversary of 9/11. As a New York City native, this day always feels extra heavy to me. The city that never sleeps always seems to have somewhat of a lull over it on this day. For the past 4 years, I have not been in NYC on 9/11, giving me somewhat of an identity crisis: thinking of and wanting to honor my city, but not physically being there to support it. This past Sunday, I volunteered at the Jewish Relief Agency, packing and distributing boxes of food to those in need. Although not New York, I was able to connect with my local community and give back in a way that felt fitting for the heaviness of the day. After spending an hour in the warehouse packing boxes with pantry items such as spaghetti and canned tuna, a few friends and I loaded up my car with 10 boxes to distribute around West Philadelphia. As we were driving around, we were all shocked by how little we had interacted with our neighboring community, after being at Penn for the past four years. At the final stop, I entered in my house address to the GPS and saw we were only four minutes away. This really struck me. The juxtaposition of West Philadelphia to our beautiful Ivy League campus just minutes away, and the bustling downtown Philadelphia only a few miles beyond, is jarring to the eye. Though I’ve obviously known about this relationship throughout my duration at Penn, every time I directly experience it I feel a sense of personal failure am inspired to find a means of personal action. Though we have not really covered this topic in class thus far, I am looking forward to touching on topics such as urban poverty and inequality and gentrification later this semester. I hope to find a way to make more sense of this relationship around us and how I can do my part.

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