The Causes and Impacts of Residential Segregation of Minority Groups in American Cities

Residential Segregation
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Residential Segregation
Residential segregation is the spatial separation of two or more social groups within a particular geographic region based on race, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, language, and other criteria. This phenomenon is common in the US nowadays, and it will take many years to eradicate it. Differences in the residential patterns of racial groups reflect the social distance between these groups and poor social cohesion (Timberlake, 2015). Sociologists often associate geographical isolation with economic marginalization and social exclusion. They examine the residential patterns of minority groups to document the degree of segregation in American cities, clarifying the causes and describing its impacts.
Throughout American history, minority ethnic groups arriving in the country for the first time settled in areas with low socioeconomic status (Marger, 1999). However, as the socioeconomic status of these groups increases, they tend to move out of these enclaves into areas with improved conditions. Iceland (2014) postulated that housing segregation becomes problematic if it causes overlapping inequalities like high unemployment rates, social stigmatization, and underrepresentation in government. Until recently, these overlapping inequalities characterized the subjugated position of African Americans.
While residential segregation is a transatlantic phenomenon, its origin and modern patterns differ across continents. For instance, African American segregation in the US stems from the legacy of racial oppression (Timberlake, 2015). However, many European nations regard residential segregation as a relatively recent immigration occurrence. That said, the disparity in the roots of segregation in the US and Europe should not be overstated (Iceland, 2014). The segregation dynamics among Hispanics and Asians in the US are comparable to those of the migrants in Europe.
Racial segregation can be analyzed using social construction theory— a theory that people develop knowledge of the world in the social context. The theory also holds that much of what individuals see as reality depends on common assumptions (Guess, 2016). Specifically, it asserts that all meaning is socially created. From a social constructivist viewpoint, many things people believe are objective reality are socially constructed and can change as society transforms (Guess, 2016). Residential segregation is a perfect example of a socially constructed aspect because it is the outcome of human actions.
One of the concrete human actions that influenced residential segregation is discrimination. America has had a long history of discrimination based on race and ethnicity (Marger, 1999). During the ancient period, white supremacy...