The Role of Neighborhood Stigma in Urban Inequality

Neighborhoods in urban America are characterized by high levels of inequality. Not only is this an inequality of income, but also an inequality of opportunity and access. The disparity in the experiences between advantaged and disadvantaged neighborhoods can be explained through the social, economic and political power they possess. Neighborhoods are associated with certain reputations which become more apparent in situations of extreme inequality. Advantaged neighborhoods are typically well regarded, while disadvantaged are seen as areas of concentrated disparity. Disadvantaged neighborhoods experience stigmas which result in discrimination. It is this notion, that stigma creates greater damage for the disadvantaged , that motivated this study. The research question asks: Does stigma have an impact on inequality? Various theories are reviewed and used to construct a conceptual framework of inequality and stigma. Linear regression analysis is utilized to empirically test the hypothesis that stigma does have an impact on neighborhood inequality. The results provide evidence to suggest that stigma does have an impact on inequality independent of other factors