Social disorganization theory is an influential component the Chicago School developed that helps explain how certain areas are more prone to have certain characteristics (Sampson 37). One particularly influential quote this week is that "neighborhoods possess relatively enduring features and emergent properties that transcend the idiosyncratic characteristics of particular ethnic groups that inhabit them" (Sampson 37). So certain areas suffer from the inability to realize the common values of its residents and maintain effective social control. So these areas are disorganized from traditional neighborhoods. Disorganized areas suffer from poverty, weakened friendship and rapid population turnover among other variables (Sampson 38). Lacking these variables is thought to lead to lead to higher rates of crime and delinquency (Sampson 38-39).
So, while it may be a bit of a stretch, one might be able to use social disorganization theory to explain why there are so many Waffle Houses in the South. Perhaps Waffle House is successful because it offers cheap food and the South is poorer than other areas of the U.S. So Waffle House helps serve a need. That need is cheap breakfast food. So it seems that it is plausible that the neighborhoods that Waffle House are in look different than neighborhoods without a Waffle House. Fast food after all does very well in poorer neighborhoods. It provides food at a cost that the residents in the community can afford. So because there are so many fast food restaurants in these neighborhoods the desire for higher quality restaurants and organic supermarkets are lowered. Individuals who desire these higher end products must travel to a different neighborhood to get their healthy food. So eventually these individuals will migrate to areas that provide higher end services such as having a Whole Foods. This creates an ecological model of neighborhoods that are disorganized.
People make decisions of where to live for similar reasons. Probably Waffle House isn't the best indicator of whether or not a neighborhood is disorganized. After all there are permits and licensing issues. But the point is still there, people with the means move to neighborhoods that they desire. Individuals who do not process the means to leave are trapped in their neighborhoods. These neighborhoods suffer from the movement of wealth to higher end communities. So these neighborhoods become disadvantaged. When one neighborhood gives the appearance that it is declining neighboring communities suffer. People don't want to live next to a dangerous neighborhood, they want to live as far away as possible. So even if a neighborhood is 'decent' if it is adjacent to a disadvantaged neighborhood the 'decent' neighborhood will suffer. This leads to certain neighborhoods, many of which are predominately African-American, becoming socially isolated from 'typical' neighborhoods.
So these socially isolated neighborhoods become socially disorganized. This happens because social isolation of a neighborhood forces its inhabitants into poverty, high unemployment, and acquaintanceship networks that often include contact with criminals (Sampson 37-38). This happens partially because disadvantaged neighborhoods have a lack of opportunity which allows for an environment conducive to criminal activity. If someone can't find work but needs money he might feel like the only way to make it is to sell illegal drugs. It is important to notice that this person is more prone to criminal activity because of his surroundings. His illegal action of selling drugs helps lead that neighborhood into becoming further isolated. This further isolation leads to an environment where traditional values can and sometimes are replaced with new values. One such example of this is Anderson's "Code of the Streets" where traditional values are replaced by "street" values. This code is one of respect and violence is used to uphold the code.
http://www.nytimes.com/books/first/a/anderson-code.html
So, while it may be a bit of a stretch, one might be able to use social disorganization theory to explain why there are so many Waffle Houses in the South. Perhaps Waffle House is successful because it offers cheap food and the South is poorer than other areas of the U.S. So Waffle House helps serve a need. That need is cheap breakfast food. So it seems that it is plausible that the neighborhoods that Waffle House are in look different than neighborhoods without a Waffle House. Fast food after all does very well in poorer neighborhoods. It provides food at a cost that the residents in the community can afford. So because there are so many fast food restaurants in these neighborhoods the desire for higher quality restaurants and organic supermarkets are lowered. Individuals who desire these higher end products must travel to a different neighborhood to get their healthy food. So eventually these individuals will migrate to areas that provide higher end services such as having a Whole Foods. This creates an ecological model of neighborhoods that are disorganized.
People make decisions of where to live for similar reasons. Probably Waffle House isn't the best indicator of whether or not a neighborhood is disorganized. After all there are permits and licensing issues. But the point is still there, people with the means move to neighborhoods that they desire. Individuals who do not process the means to leave are trapped in their neighborhoods. These neighborhoods suffer from the movement of wealth to higher end communities. So these neighborhoods become disadvantaged. When one neighborhood gives the appearance that it is declining neighboring communities suffer. People don't want to live next to a dangerous neighborhood, they want to live as far away as possible. So even if a neighborhood is 'decent' if it is adjacent to a disadvantaged neighborhood the 'decent' neighborhood will suffer. This leads to certain neighborhoods, many of which are predominately African-American, becoming socially isolated from 'typical' neighborhoods.
So these socially isolated neighborhoods become socially disorganized. This happens because social isolation of a neighborhood forces its inhabitants into poverty, high unemployment, and acquaintanceship networks that often include contact with criminals (Sampson 37-38). This happens partially because disadvantaged neighborhoods have a lack of opportunity which allows for an environment conducive to criminal activity. If someone can't find work but needs money he might feel like the only way to make it is to sell illegal drugs. It is important to notice that this person is more prone to criminal activity because of his surroundings. His illegal action of selling drugs helps lead that neighborhood into becoming further isolated. This further isolation leads to an environment where traditional values can and sometimes are replaced with new values. One such example of this is Anderson's "Code of the Streets" where traditional values are replaced by "street" values. This code is one of respect and violence is used to uphold the code.
http://www.nytimes.com/books/first/a/anderson-code.html
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