Belonging and the intergenerational transmission of place identity: Reflections on a British inner-city neighbourhood

Abstract

This paper explores the subjectivities of neighbourhood identity and belonging. It considers how far, and in what ways, place identity and attachment are transmitted cross-generationally. Three broad themes have framed this research. First, the ways in which the formation and reproduction of neighbourhood identities have been influenced by geographical, political, contemporary and historical contexts. Second, and relatedly, the roles played by intersectional factors such as race and class. Third, the extent to which alternative neighbourhood identities challenge and contest ‘mainstream’ narratives that stigmatise and undermine disadvantaged inner-city communities. This paper draws on a case study area of ‘Liverpool 8’ (part of the wider Toxteth locale), a historically ethnically diverse inner-city area which attracted negative press coverage during the 1980s and 2011 riots. Drawing on a series of in-depth interviews with residents, the research reveals evidence of strong neighbourhood belonging and identity, shared and diffused across generations, based on subjective experiences, both positive (e.g. celebration of diversity, neighbourliness) and negative (e.g. racism, discrimination). To some extent, younger generation narratives reveal subtle changes that suggest a broadening of spatial horizons, beyond the residents’ immediate neighbourhood. However, at the same time, socio-economic and ethnic inequalities act to temper and stifle socio-spatial networks and experiences outside the immediate neighbourhood, for younger – as well as older – generations.

‘We are not separatist because so many of us are mixed’: resisting negative stereotypes of neighbourhood ethnic residential concentration

“…Alongside segregationist housing policies in Liverpool at this time, individual racially minoritised families from L8 (sometimes the result of arbitrary Compulsory Purchase Orders or 'slum' clearance), were allocated social housing on predominantly White estates adjacent to the area or across the city. A result of isolating racially minoritised families in Liverpool (Frost and Catney 2020;CRE 1984) and elsewhere (Kundnani 2001) was that they became targets of racial harassment and violence. Anxieties around safety, a desire for proximity to family and community, and housing affordability, have all contributed to the strengthening of the historical patterns of ethnic residential concentration in L8 (Kundnani 2001;Phillips 2006;Frost and Catney 2020).…”

“…A result of isolating racially minoritised families in Liverpool (Frost and Catney 2020;CRE 1984) and elsewhere (Kundnani 2001) was that they became targets of racial harassment and violence. Anxieties around safety, a desire for proximity to family and community, and housing affordability, have all contributed to the strengthening of the historical patterns of ethnic residential concentration in L8 (Kundnani 2001;Phillips 2006;Frost and Catney 2020). This can be seen across several generations of Black British and White-Black mixed heritage groups, as well as more recent first-generation migrants.…”

“…(50-59, female, Mixed heritage Irish and Chinese) Subjective notions of belonging and acceptance inside L8 appeared to contrast markedly with the 'othering' experienced outside the neighbourhood. In addition to the historic, and some would suggest ongoing, stigma attached to the wider city of Liverpool (Scraton 2007), L8 has endured place stigma within Liverpool (Butler 2019;Frost and Catney 2020). Much of this revolves around the area's concentrated Black settlement, urban unrest in the 1980s and 2011, safety and crime, and high levels of deprivation.…”

The evolution and stability of multi‐ethnic residential neighbourhoods in England

“…Rather, two alternative mechanisms might be at play. First, stability of neighbourhood type might reflect loyalty to place (see Frost and Catney (2020) for an example outside of London), or, less positively, a "stickiness" within multi-ethnic neighbourhoods as a function of barriers in the housing market. Second, and…”

“…rich insights into attitudes to "commonplace" diversity and "everyday" encounter (Wessendorf, 2013), the relationships between diversity, place belonging, and identity (Frost & Catney, 2020), the new layers of diversity in urban locales (Platts-Fowler & Robinson, 2015), and migrant acceptance and celebration of diversity (Hickman et al, 2008).…”