Urban Studies 101: Urban Poverty and Affluence (original) (raw)

Welcome. This course will introduce you to the field of Urban Studies. We will investigate why cities are places of economic and political opportunity for some and places of deprivation, discrimination, violence and impoverishment for others. We will explore how urban restructuring since WWII has increased the income gap in major metropolitan areas such as New York. We will also discuss different theories of urban poverty and inequality and examine the impact of immigration, racial segregation, suburbanization, public policies, and social movements on U.S. cities and their inhabitants. We will pay special attention to the existence of inequalities based on race, class, gender, and sexuality and will analyze proposals to reduce these inequalities.