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Chloe Skipper's Urban Sociology Blog Post 2022 #12

This class will be one of my more influential ones at Penn. I feel that I've made the most mistakes in this class, and openly reflecting upon them will force me to hold myself accountable and learn from them. I found the class size in this course to be challenging because it was far smaller than a lecture that I would have for my 100-200 person chem class, but it was noticeably larger than my 10-person Spanish class. My unfamiliarity with this class size in college made me struggle with participation more than I anticipated. For example, I never experienced the urge to participate in my chem class; the odds that my professors would even know me if I didn't attend office hours or personally email them are very slim. However, I undoubtedly needed to participate in my Spanish class; it would be painfully obvious if I didn't. I had another course with a similar amount of students this semester -- math. I never participated in my math class solely due to fear; I lacked confidence in myself and thus was intimidated to share my work. While I never feared participating in Urban Sociology, I grouped it with math in my mind due to the similarity in class sizes - explaining my lack of participation. Instead, I should have exuded my in Urban Sociology by participating more frequently in class. I will have a different experience with each class throughout my academic career. Therefore, I should not

There were also, unfortunately, instances in this class during which I was a passive communicator. Sometimes issues beyond our control arise, but not communicating them is one of the few things I can do to subdue said issues. Although I wish I didn't have a rocky first semester of college, I would rather experience hardships early on in my time here than later. This learning experience will create a solid and sturdy for myself not just as a student but as a person holistically.

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Chloe Skipper's Urban Sociology Blog Post 2022 #11

Although I was always aware of the magnitude of global change, I never knew how much more China and the U.S. contributed to this problem than other countries. The fact that the sum of the European Union countries' carbon dioxide outputs equates to that of the U.S.'s alone is not only striking but embarrassing. I never hear this statistic in talks of climate change; frankly, we should hold ourselves accountable for our massive impact on this global issue. More action needs to be taken to provide tangible solutions and actions that can make our livelihoods more sustainable and eco-friendly.

Last month, there was a trend on TikTok where people explained goals they had for the future, followed by the sentence "It's 70 degrees in November". That sentence indicated that any future issues are irrelevant because the world is rapidly ending due to global warming. Although the trend was initially funny, it made me realize that a decent amount of people are aware of the impact of global warming, but we feel helpless. While there are solutions to decreasing the effect of global warming, as shown in the McKinsey & Company chart, these don't apply to everyday life solutions. How does one go about "decarbonizing the electricity grid" or "enabling next-generation" within their daily routine? While these solutions will create change, they are ambiguous and confusing. How do we actively fight a life-threatening issue it is approached in a mind-boggling manner?

Last month, there was a trend on TikTok where people explained goals they had for the future, followed by the sentence "It's 70 degrees in November". That sentence indicated that any future issues are irrelevant because the world is coming to an end due to global warming. Although the trend was initially funny, it made me realize that a decent amount of people are aware of the impact of global warming, but we feel helpless. While there are solutions to decreasing the effect of global warming, as shown in the McKinsey & Company chart, these aren't applicable to everyday life solutions. How does one go about "decarbonizing the electricity grid" or "enabling next-generation" within their daily routine? While these solutions are calculated to create change, they are ambiguous and confusing. How do we actively fight a life-threatening issue when the manner in which it is approached is mind-boggling?

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Chloe Skipper's Urban Sociology Blog Post 2022 #9

I have a preconceived notion that the majority of adults disapprove of social media for its addictive, distracting effect, which often leads me to assume that all adults disapprove of social media. Hearing this perspective from my parents repeatedly only furthered my suspicion. However, I will undoubtedly relay Arch Daily's Saskia Sassen interview clip to my family. After having numerous arguments with my family about social media, I believe they'll lean more towards my perspective that it's overall more beneficial than not after watching the video. In times of global issues, whether from a public health, safety, or financial perspective, social media serves as an effective measure to stay informed. Although staying informed does not necessarily create solutions to problems, it's one of the first steps in doing so: the first step in solving a problem is identifying it. By understanding what setbacks other countries or parts of the world face, people are more socially aware, receptive, understanding, and most importantly, eager to make a change. This can result in protests and fundraisers, which generate even more support, awareness, and potential to change. Hearing Sassen's perspective was not only refreshing, but it provided me with a sense of optimism: if older generations start to understand the potential of social media as a positive outlet, they'll continue relying on it to stay informed about current events. Reflecting on the scope of change that one generation can make - hating social media to adapting to it - gives me so much more hope for how future generations can continue making change as well.

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Chloe Skipper's Urban Sociology Blog Post 2022 #10

I often feel it takes too much effort to make people sympathize or care about causes that don't directly impact them. For example, people are more likely to care about poverty and issues regarding homeless or unsheltered people if they see visuals of the horrid conditions in which the citizens inhabit. Hearing statistics alone would not produce the same caring, attentive, determined, and concerned reaction. The "Why 'Monkey Village' In Lagos Was Demolished" video further supports this idea. Viewing the ruins that the Nigerian citizens call home -- the physical accumulation of trash on which generations of families squander -- creates a pitying effect. While I agree that the situation in Lagos is unfortunate and that the citizens were more than undeserving of their displacement, I wish people could care about this issue just by reading about it online. As a society, I urge us to display the same compassion towards global issues regardless of whether we see images of the scenarios. I understand that physical representations are useful in conceptualizing the reality of a situation, these representations too often create more emotional than ethical responses in their audiences. We should not care about about life-altering problems only because we look down upon the people suffering from said issues. This critique is very nit-picky; after all, any awareness regarding the Nigerian government's inhumane treatment and utter disregard towards its citizens is positive and impactful. This begs the question: does the portrayl of an issue matter even if it informs people globally? My answer is still yes. If the foundation upon which we connect ourselves and lend help to others is morally corrupt, then our "help" is not as helpful as we perceive it to be.

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Chloe Skipper's Urban Sociology Blog Post 2022 #8

The other week, I had an appointment at IdentoGo, a company that provides identity-related services for employment, licensing, and other sorts of certifications. The location I went to was only a 4- minute drive or 15-minute walk, not even a mile away from me. Although only a short distance away, aspects of the neighborhood made me feel as though I was worlds away. A sign on the door indicated that masks were mandatory and only one customer was allowed in the entire shop at each time. I instantly felt like I had time traveled back to two-and-a-half years ago: the height of the pandemic. Everything that had changed around me due to the pandemic seemed to revert back to some sort of normalcy. Sure, there were still restaurants whose websites indicated limited occupancy due to covid or who only offered takeout, but most of the time these announcements were outdated. Therefore, I assumed that the sign wasn't a current policy still implemented. However, right past the door sat a box full of disposable masks. I realized, "Wow, covid is still treated seriously here". I shortly thereafter criticized myself for the naivety I displayed and reflected on my fortune. I do not have to worry about the effects of covid as much as others might because I've had access to numerous vaccines and boosters. It was rather ignorant of me to expect people in other places to have had similar experiences as me. I also should have acknowledged that some people feel comfortable to continue wearing masks and taking preventative measures against covid. The pandemic might have flown by, but its effects have permanently altered "real life" as we know it. I used to roll my eyes whenever my mom used the phrase "the new normal" when referring to life post-pandemic. I guess I owe her an apology.

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Chloe Skipper's Urban Sociology Blog 2022 #7

When reflecting on the theme of gentrification in class this week, I instantly recall the protestors who were on Penn's campus for the first few months of the semester. Their presence was simply inescapable for two main reasons. The protestors created signs to advertise their cause, providing anybody walking by with an instant understanding of the scenario. Furthermore, they slept outside in tents at Blanche Levy Park for at least a month. I vividly remember an unseasonably breezy October day walking on Locust, staring at the tents thinking to myself, "I hope the protestors aren't cold right now". The familiarity of seeing the protestors on my daily walks to class was a consistent reminder of the gentrification that the university has caused. Before coming here, I was unaware of this. However, I felt obligated to research the history of Penn's relationship with the University City Townhomes and all of the West Philly area. The most striking statistic to me was that between 2000 and 2016, the city lost 20,000 low-cost rental units. According to the 34th Street Magazine, a low-cost rental unit is defined as a unit whose rent and utility cost falls under $750. Every year within this timeline, 1,250 families lost their homes in West Philly. West Philly used to be known as a residential area within Philly. Where are the evicted residents expected to live? This city is not homeless-friendly, as Philly has the largest number of homeless people per capita out of all major U.S. cities. There is no clear-cut solution to this issue, but I am more than glad that the protestors were present on campus to increase awareness and accountability for Penn's role in the madness.

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Chloe Skipper's Urban Sociology Blog 2022 #6

As society progresses and advances, social justice issues are more passionately and more in-depth. A prevalent example of one of these issues is police brutality. It goes without saying that minorities (exclusively nonwhite people) are targeted more heavily by the police than white people in the United States (this applies globally as well, but my specific focus is nationwide). However, there are people who try to refute this statistic, offering the following counterargument: more white people have been killed by the police than Black and Hispanic people in the United States. While this is true, unfortunately, a large number of people do not consider the context behind this statistic -- that more white people have been killed by the police because there is infinitely a larger population of white people than any other minority group. As of 2020, white people make up slightly more than 60% of the population and they account for roughly 41% of fatal police shootings. Black people represent 13.4% of the population, yet they account for approximately 22% of fatal police shootings. The ratio of population to fatal police shooting ratios among Black and white people indicates that Black people are more disproportionately affected by the criminal justice system. To some, this derivation is basic knowledge. To others, this conclusion is other-worldly and earth-shattering. As a society, in order to progress forward and generate tangible change, we need to acknowledge all sorts of experiences regarding the criminal justice system to attack its flaws.

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Chloe Skipper's Urban Sociology Blog 2022 #5

Although a prominent amount of progress has been made within the last approximately 50 years to eradicate the "stereotypical housewife" narrative regarding women's role in society, its shadows still lurk in the corners, affecting people more than they'd like to admit. For example, my mom has a crazily hectic work schedule. On any given week, she's in a different state or even country. It's truly difficult to keep up with her traveling schedule, so I can only begin to imagine how difficult it is to experience her life and work environment. Regardless, she is still the person in my family who does the most cooking. Coincidentally, she also happens to be an amazing cook whereas my father lacks a lot of cooking ability. However, after realizing how busy she is and how much work she does to maintain the household, I find myself wondering why she is the sole person who maintains the household when every other family member (including myself) is infinitely less busy than she is. It's not fair or right to chalk this occurrence up to societal norms. It's imperative to understand the basis of these norms but to fight them as well, which is something I urge my family to do going forward.

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Chloe Skipper's Urban Sociology Blog 2022 #4

Going to college but a major U.S. city compared to living in the suburbs for 18 years has undoubtedly altered the way I think. I feel entitled as a Philadelphia citizen to understand more issues that Philly faces, whether it's from an economic, social, or cultural standpoint. An intersection of issues within Philadelphia and content that we have learned from Urban Sociology occurs within the dissimilarity index. According to Census Scope, (https://censusscope.org/us/rank_dissimilarity_white_black.html) Philadelphia is ranked as the city with the 18th highest white-black dissimilarity index. For context, 318 cities were included in this list. Of cities with similar populations, Philadelphia ranked 3rd out of U.S. cities with the top 10 highest populations on this list. New York City and Chicago were the two cities with dissimilarity indices higher than Philly's. Having grown up less than half an hour away from New York City, I would say that I am very familiar with its demographic. It is dumbfounding to me that Philadelphia has a comparable dissimilarity index to New York City. I am not sure why I had other preconceived notions of Philly's racial demographic, but it is important that I now understand its accurate racial makeup. However, now that I am aware of this statistic, I will continue to research the history of Philly's segregation and the social/racial systems set in place that have contributed to this statistic.

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Chloe Skipper's Urban Sociology Blog 2022 #3

Out of all of the Urban Sociology lectures so far, lecture 9 (The Social Environment of Metro Areas) has been the most influential to me. It made me realize that urban sociology theories depict and spell out the habits of everyday life. A prime example is Lyn Lofland's observation that "We cope by identifying strangers based on 2 factors: appearance and spatial location". If I meet someone new, I register them in my brain based on how they look (appearance) and the circumstances under which I meet them (spatial location). I never realized that humans categorize people into these groupings as a coping mechanism. Meeting people without knowing who they are is scary and dangerous, especially in an urban setting. Registering someone's identity according to these two factors kickstarts the process of determining the kind of people you want to surround yourself with. Appearance and spatial location do not speak to a person's holistic character. However, these facets allow people to recognize vaguely familiar faces, instilling citizens who live in largely populated areas with comfort and security. Therefore, this scenario is a better and safer alternative to feeling awkward, uncomfortable, and intimidated around strangers or people you can't place in your mind.

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Chloe Skipper's Urban Sociology Blog 2022 #2

I recently joined Penn's LGBTQIA+ club, Wharton Alliance this semester. Every Sunday, we have weekly meetings to discuss the club's agendas. This week, some of the club members mentioned the Gayborhood in one of their presentations when discussing potential locations for social events. If this term was unfamiliar to me, I could easily decipher what it meant and referred to. However, I instantly recalled upon Urban Sociology lecture, in which we discussed gayborhoods and their cultural significance. I remembered learning that gayborhoods are diminishing around the country. In that moment, I felt extremely fortunate to have easy access to a gayborhood. A huge talking point in Wharton Alliance is LGBTQIA+ visibility. Gayborhoods not only provide visbility for queer people, but they serve as safe spaces in which queer people can find the same opportunities as heterosexual people can practically anywhere. For once, a whole neighborhood exists in which queer people do not have to hide a prevalent part of their identities. I remember feeling extremely empowered during that Wharton Alliance meeting. Although I have yet to visit the Gayborhood, it is definitely on my bucket list of places to visit in Philly.

On a broader scale, the concept of having a neighborhood that predominantly consists of any type of affinity group -- whether race, religion, sexuality or any other example -- is extremely comforting. The societal expectation to conform to white, heteronormative culture is not only extremely prevalent in society, but it's suffocating. A lot of people hide parts of their culture to avoid being hate-crimed just to "fit in". Affinity spaces like gayborhoods fight against this normative culture, allowing people to embrace their true identities unapologetically.

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Chloe Skipper's Urban Sociology Blog 2022 #1

Over the summer, I worked as a sales associate at a clothing store called Club Monaco. My location was in a mall, although there are also standalone stores. Some of my former coworkers had also worked in the standalone locations, and it wasn't until I had taken this course that I could make more sense of their experiences.

The mall locations had more traffic (which makes conceptual sense)- a higher volume of customers at any given time. This comparison connects to an agglomeration economy in which the proximity of different stores improves their overall efficiency. Malls are structured to have people visit more than one store during their trip, so customers who didn't intend to go to Club Monaco might do so for its convenience and proximity factors.

Another concept entangled in this example is metro and edge cities replacing the city as the major urban unit. The standalone locations are predominantly in cities, whereas the malls are in suburban areas. Since COVID-19, more job opportunities arise away from the city, in suburban areas. This change creates an influx of people moving out of the city into the suburbs. Consequently, suburban areas need to have stores and shops that accommodate their residents. Malls serve as the perfect solution to this desire: they encompass different types of stores to suit a range of needs, and their physical size fits into the land mass of suburban areas compared to cities.