Segregation & Change Over Time (Edexcel A Level Geography)
Revision Note
International Migrants & Segregation
International migrants tend to cluster in distinctive places across cities (known as enclaves), such as:
Russian oligarch families in Kensington and Chelsea, London
Indian community in Hounslow, London
The level of ethnic segregation varies and changes over time due to:
Economic indicators e.g. income and employment
Social indicators e.g. health, crime and education
Indicators Linked to Ethnic Segregation
Economic indicators | Social indicators |
|---|---|
Areas of deprivation and affluence can become inhabited by different ethnic groups
Language barriers and racial discrimination may reduce the chances of employment and earning a higher income International migrants are more likely to live in cheap, poor-quality housing, where there is less investment in healthcare and education Some ethnic groups experience high levels of deprivation | Migrants feel more supported and protected when surrounded by people from the same culture Clustering of similar ethnicities can increase political power, leading to more influence in local decision-making Middle-income groups may leave an area (perhaps due to prejudice and racism) and leave behind a particular ethnic group, creating segregation Social hostility from the majority population |
Russian oligarchs in London
London is one of the main capitals of the super-rich, including wealthy Russian oligarchs
Russians have bought £1.5 billion worth of property in the UK since 2016
There are an estimated 1,895 Russian-owned properties in London
Eaton Square, an exclusive garden estate in Belgravia (London), is nicknamed "Red Square" because of its many wealthy Russian residents e.g. Roman Abramovich
London is attractive to investors:
Property prices can increase by 10% annually
Before 2022, a £2 million investment allowed foreign investors to receive a visa, which offered residency to them and their families
The British pound holds its value more consistently than the Russian rouble
The Russian economy is volatile due to the Ukraine war and the economic sanctions placed on Russia
Owning UK property gives investors access to bank accounts and private schools
Worked Example
Using Figure 2 below, suggest one reason why recently-arrived Asians tend to live in the area indicated
[3 marks]
IMAGE
A map showing ethnic segregation in part of Chicago, (USA)
A starter reason is required, which is then extended for a further two points
The answer needs to be based on the map shown in the resource
There should be a link to the resource in the answer
It doesn't have to be a direct quote or use of data
It could be an idea or example triggered by the map
More than one reason cannot be credited
Answer:
Recently-arrived Asians will be attracted to this area in Chicago as there could be an existing cluster of Asian people there, including family members or friends, who can offer housing and economic opportunities in this inner-city area or the nearby CBD. This clustering means there also will be shared characteristics (e.g. language and belief systems), meaning new immigrants feel more supported.
Ethnic & Cultural Characteristics of Urban Areas
Changes in the urban landscape occur when an area has a high concentration of ethnic groups, including the introduction of:
Places of worship
Restaurants - ethnic cuisines
Grocery stores - ethnic foods
Clothes shops - traditional clothing
Social clubs and community building
Cultural festivals and ceremonies
Cinemas showing ethnic films
Non-English signs and advertising
The diverse living spaces incorporate social characteristics that reflect the dominant ethnicity and culture e.g. The concentration of South Asian people in Rusholme (Manchester) is reflected in the abundance of curry houses and South Asian supermarkets along its Curry Mile
Southall, part of the borough of Ealing (West London), contains the largest Asian community in London and has experienced changes in its urban landscape to reflect this dominant ethnic group:
The majority of shops on the main road of Southall (The Broadway) cater to the Indian and Pakistani community
Varied places of worship, including churches, and mosques.There are also ten gurdwara temples to serve the 20,000 Sikhs living in the area
Southall tube station displays signs in English and Punjabi
A Southall radio station (Desi Radio) broadcasts in the Punjabi language and plays Bhangra music
Worked Example
Explain how cultural diversity can change the built environment of an urban place
[4 marks]
Aim to provide two ways cultural diversity can change the built environment, then either extend that point or provide an example with detail
Answer:
As migrants from different ethnic and cultural groups move into an urban area, the urban landscape will change to cater to the migrant’s needs, such as the building of places of worship or signs written in the language of the migrants. For example, signs in the Southall tube station are written in Punjabi, where over 20,000 Indians live. Entrepreneurial migrants will set up new shops and businesses in the area to reflect the food and clothing from the migrant’s home environment. The migration of South Asian people into Rusholme (Manchester) in the 1950s led to the development of the Curry Mile, where there is an abundance of curry houses and South Asian supermarkets.
Changes in Perceptions & Experiences
Communities evolve economically and culturally as new attitudes and values are introduced into an area
This can change the intergenerational experiences and perceptions of living spaces
Not all intergenerational migrants experience this positive assimilation as UK
Statistics show that Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME):
Are twice as likely to be unemployed as white people
Are more than twice as likely as white people to experience extreme poverty
The average health of BAME 60-year-olds is similar to that of a white British 80-year-old
The number of Muslim children living in overcrowded housing is more than four times the national average
Worked Example
Explain the factors that may result in ethnically segregated communities
[6 marks]
Either develop two factors in greater detail, using examples to illustrate your ideas, or include a range of factors
It is beneficial to incorporate historical perspectives in this answer, but as a geographer, you also need to offer an up-to-date comment too
Answer:
When first-generation immigrants move to an area, they are initially attracted to urban areas of low-cost housing as they often have little money and are in search of employment. These areas are usually located in the inner city, which leads to social clustering as migrants feel safer and more secure living in a place with other people who have shared characteristics. This need for safety is also exacerbated by the prejudice and discrimination the migrants may experience when they first arrive, such as the attacks on the Caribbean community that led to the Notting Hill riots in 1958. The need for safety and low-cost housing results in more ethnically segregated communities.
The social clustering of migrants can also increase ethnic segregation. For example, Southall, in West London, currently contains the largest Asian community in London. Over time, its urban landscape has changed to reflect this ethnic group. Now, the majority of shops (clothes, food and restaurants) on the main road of Southall cater to the Indian and Pakistani communities, and ten gurdwara temples were established to serve the 20,000 Sikhs living in the area. As a result, middle-income groups may leave an area (perhaps due to prejudice, racism or tension) and leave behind a particular ethnic group, creating further segregation. In 2011, only 6.3% of Southall Broadway’s residents were White British.
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