Lived Experience & Perception of Urban Places (Edexcel A Level Geography)
Revision Note
Changing Perception of Urban Places
Individuals or groups of people will have different perceptions of living spaces due to a variety of factors:
A person’s lived experience and understanding of the area gives them an insider’s perspective
The media experience of a place (films, social media, news, TV programmes, music and art) will help develop an outsider’s perspective of a place
A person’s gender, ethnicity, age and life cycle stage can also influence perceptions
Wealth can determine perceptions
A person with good health, a high income and good qualifications will view a place differently from someone living in poverty and deprivation
The characteristics of a place can be valued differently by people e.g.
Some people want a place that is highly accessible (transport infrastructure) and connected (super-fast broadband)
Other people value a natural environment with plenty of green space and cleaner air
Most people prioritise employment opportunities and affordable living
Urban places
Urban places and areas within them are perceived differently by individuals or groups of people
During the 19th century industrialisation, urban places were perceived as being dangerous and threatening as they were the hotspots of crime, prostitution and corruption
Rural-urban migration led to high population densities in urban areas
High levels of poverty in some UK cities led to crime hotspots
Industries created air pollution, which affected human health
Some people (the young and migrants) now view these same urban places as attractive because of the range of social and leisure activities, and economic opportunities
Changing Perceptions of London
Victorian London | Modern-day London |
|---|---|
London developed rapidly during the Industrial Revolution Between 1801 and 1901, the population exploded from 1 million to 6.5 million The city authorities were unable to provide housing or basic needs for everyone, leading to the development of slum terraces The slum terraces, located next to the factories, were overcrowded and unsanitary (no running water or sewers) Children in extreme poverty turned to petty theft and pickpocketing The living conditions of the poorest created a negative perception of London High crime rates High levels of disease (cholera, typhoid) Dangerous Wealthy residents moved out of the inner-city areas to the suburbs | London’s population has continued to grow and is estimated to be 9.6 million (2023) Today, London is perceived as being much safer, healthier and wealthier, compared to Victorian times This attracts internal and international migration: Wide range of employment opportunities e.g finance in The City of London and retail on Oxford Street Good quality commercial and social services Variety of entertainment and other leisure activities e.g. Tate Modern Well-developed infrastructure e.g. The London Underground Wide ethnic and cultural diversity In a 2016 poll, London was voted as the “best perceived” city in the world |
Perceptions of Urban Places as Undesirable
Cities in the UK can be perceived as undesirable or even threatening by residents and/or outsiders due to:
High crime rates
Poor environmental quality e.g. high levels of litter, graffiti, derelict buildings and air pollution
High cost of living, such as house prices
Racism towards migrants or other minority ethnic groups
Some of the cities with the poorest reputations include:
Birmingham - has a high crime rate
In a survey 44% of its residents did not recommend it as a safe place to live
Manchester - receives 200,000 reports of crime each year and has a high level of poverty and homelessness
Cardiff - more than a third of residents do not feel safe during the day and/or at night
Bradford - unemployment levels in some areas are over 25%, as well as high levels of social deprivation
Liverpool has struggled to shift its undesirable reputation, despite major regeneration, following the 1981 Toxteth riots in the inner-city
During the 1980s, the media experience of Liverpool was negative
The media depicted part of Toxteth as a no-go area for local police
News reports portrayed inner-city Liverpool as being out of control
The television series Bread focused on the daily struggle many Liverpudlian working-class families experienced (over-crowded terrace houses, unemployment and trying to pay bills)
The Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) can be used to justify this negative reputation, using quantitative data rather than qualitative data
Level of Deprivation for Liverpool (2019)
Type of deprivation | Liverpool (Decile rank) |
Education | 1 |
Health | 1 |
Crime | 1 |
Housing access | 9 |
Income | 1 |
Employment | 1 |
Deciles divide the ranked areas into 10 equal groups - the most deprived (1) to the least deprived (10)
Liverpool has high levels of deprivation as at least 90% of places in England experience less deprivation than Liverpool in six categories
For instance, Liverpool has a decile rank of 1 in income deprivation, which means that people in at least 90% of other places in England earn more than people in Liverpool
The only category where deprivation is the least is access to housing
Based on this level of deprivation, the lived experience of local people appears negative
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Where possible, try to back up your discussion of a place’s image and the perceptions of that place with data, such as the IMD or census data
Worked Example
Study Figure 3 below and suggest one way the writer of the blog presents a negative view of her life in inner-city London
[3 marks]
IMAGE
The specification focuses on perception and sense of place; you need to be able to use a range of sources of information to find out about contrasting views e.g. Photos and blogs
For this question, you need to use the text and/or the photograph to help say how the views of the blogger are conveyed
You need to make three linked points for these questions, rather than introducing a new idea
Answer:
The author of the blog mentions that her flat is damp as the heating doesn’t work and that the landlord is ignoring her request for help. Due to this problem, she has to use alternative heating, which costs a lot of her benefit money, and rely on friends.
Perception of Suburban areas
Cities are complex places
One part of the city may appeal to some people but not to others depending on demographic groups e.g. age and ethnicity
The inner city may be desirable for a migrant due to social clustering and the closer proximity to job opportunities in the city, e.g. 23% of the population of Toxteth, an inner-city area of Liverpool, were born outside the UK
The inner city may not be perceived well by an elderly resident due to the busy nature and potential lack of care opportunities
Inner-city areas are populated by younger adults, who want to be closer to the Central Business District (CBD) for work and leisure
As working adults move through the life cycle, the appeal of different areas within the city change
Suburban areas are family-based residential places, where the houses are bigger and have gardens
For example, the population of Broadgreen (a Liverpudlian suburb) consists of 50 percent 25-64-year-olds, who are more likely to have a family.
Urban area | What type of people it appeals to |
|---|---|
Inner-city | Disadvantaged or low-income families - the most affordable social housing is located there International immigrants - cheaper housing, more job opportunities in the CBD and a higher chance of an established ethnic community Students - close to university, entertainment and job opportunities Young, professional workers - a higher choice of apartments close to work, and the CBD contains more entertainment facilities |
Suburb | Young families - a higher choice of the best schools, houses have gardens and the public transport routes make commuting into the CBD easier Older and retired people - crime is generally lower, it is more peaceful and there is less need to travel into the CBD |
Worked Example
Suggest reasons why perceptions of living in an inner-city area, such as in London, may vary.
[6 marks]
You need to use the resource to gain ideas and offer reasons why perceptions of living in an inner-city area may vary between different groups of people
Identify two or three groups by ethnicity, age, length of residence or employment status, and then explain how their perceptions might vary
Your answer will be vague and weak if you start the sentence with “some people think…. but others think…”
Explain two reasons for the varying perceptions, rather than just stating what it is e.g. wealth and ethnicity
You are not expected to know about London specifically, but you could discuss the named place
Answer:
Perceptions of living in an inner-city area are affected by various factors, including age, ethnicity, income and life cycle. Young, professional people might find inner-city areas more attractive due to the range of services and leisure activities available in the CBD. Also, there is a greater range of employment opportunities in the CBD, which is near the inner city, making commuting easier. These jobs are generally higher paid, such as the financial district in the City of London. Immigrants, who have recently arrived in the UK, might also find the inner-city areas appealing as the houses are cheaper, and there is a feeling of safety created by an already established community, with a shared language, religion and culture. For example, the Muslim community around Nether Edge (Sheffield) raised several million pounds to pay for a new mosque and Islamic centre.
Older, retired people may find the inner-city areas less appealing as there is less need for them to be close to the CBD. They could have a negative perception of the inner city due to higher crime rates and levels of air pollution. Instead, they would probably prefer a quieter area, with more open space, like the suburbs. So, perceptions of living in an inner city differ due to different priorities.
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