The New Sociology of Suburbs: A Research Agenda for Analysis of Emerging Trends

Abstract

The majority of Americans live and work in suburbs, but the social problems arising in these communities are rarely studied by sociologists. Far more scholarly attention is devoted to understanding the distinctive character of urban communities. This review directs attention to three emerging trends affecting the nation's suburbs disproportionately: the suburbanization of poverty, the settlement of post-1965 immigrants in the suburbs, and the impact of reverse migration to the South on black suburbanization. The review provides a critical discussion of the valuable contributions demographers have made to our general understanding of these trends, then it engages the work of ethnographers to assess the processes underlying these outcomes. These emerging trends constitute the basis for a robust research agenda rooted in the sociology of suburbs.

Framing the Debate on Suburbanization in North America and Germany Conceptually—Edward Soja’s Concept of “Regional Urbanization” Revisited

“…In The New Suburbanites: Race and Housing in the Suburbs Lake [40], for instance, connected the suburbanization of the black population to inequality and discrimination. In her contribution The New Sociology of Suburbs, Lacy [41] points out three central trends that highlight why ethnic aspects once again need to be included into current research projects: "the suburbanization of poverty, the settlement of post-1965 immigrants in the suburbs, and the impact of reverse migration to the South on black suburbanization" [41] (p. 369). Accordingly, in the US debate, "immigrant suburbs" are also addressed: "Immigrants now live in suburbs as well as cities" [42] (p. 150).…”

The New Suburb: Multiethnic Racial Residential Integration in the United States

“…Internal migrants and immigrants largely drive the recent diversification of suburbia and new development accommodates these arrivals. For example, "reverse migrations" to the South show that middle-class blacks with college degrees often choose to settle in newer suburbs (Lacy 2016). Census tract-level analyses find that new housing stock associates with increased neighborhood diversity and lower segregation scores (Crowder and South 2005;Farley and Frey 1994).…”

“…While postwar suburbanization and white flight in the 20 th century constructed suburbs as a white domain (Boustan 2010;Jackson 1987), the majority of people of color now live in suburbs (Frey 2018). For example, in the Atlanta and Washington, DC metro areas, roughly 80% of black residents live outside the city (Lacy 2016). In addition, immigrants often bypass the central city and settle directly in suburbs (Frey 2018), and the majority of immigrants lived in suburbs as of 2010 (Wilson and Singer 2011).…”

Problems, Puzzles, and the Production of Knowledge: Harnessing Census Data in the Age of Trump

“…Critics believe Trump's proposed citizenship question is designed specifically to harm blue states, traditional destinations for immigrants. However, by weaponizing citizenship status, Trump could hurt red states too, as many of these new destinations experienced the highest rates of immigration in recent years (Lacy ; Waters and Jimenez ).…”

“…First, demographers could turn to ethnographic studies to gain a comprehensive understanding of the processes underlying outcomes of interest. For example, Lacy () assesses three emerging trends revealed by the work of demographers, then turns to an analysis of ethnographic studies to explore how these trends impact the everyday lives of people. Concerning suburban poverty, she argues demographers identify new sites for the concentration of poverty, while ethnographers reveal how the poor make sense of their lives in a space built for families in possession of middle‐class resources (on suburban poverty, see Murphy forthcoming).…”