Verkorte presentatie

1. Ethnic categorization of the use and perception of public space. A
case study in a multi-ethnic neighborhood.
What language do you think I am?
‘Are you Moroccan language?’
www.rotterdam.nl
Linda Zuijderwijk, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Sociology
zuijderwijk@fsw.eur.nl
Conflict, Cooperation and Transformations in Everyday Life

2. Relations between users and public space
Ethnic diversification of cities:
Everyday contact between local residents?
‘Knowing’ place and others
Customers ~Outsiders ~Newcomers
Patrons
Residents ~Established ~Old residents
(Lofland 1973; Elias & Scotson 1965; May 2004; Madanipour 2004; Reijndorp 2004)
Social oldness
Knowledge

3. Bospolder Square, Delfshaven, Rotterdam

4. De-ethnicizing methodology
Problem ethnicity:
1. Stereotyping & essentializing
2. Sharing traits?
(Vertovec 2007; Low, Taplin & Scheld 2005; Brubaker 2002)
(Rapid) Ethnographic Assessment Procedure (Low et al. 2005, Taplin,
Scheld & Low 2002)
1. Non-ethnic units of observation (Wimmer 2007)
2. Multi-ethnic team: ethnicity-of-interviewer effect (Weeks & Moore
1981)
3. No explicit asking for ethnic categorization
4. Variety in respondents (Low & Lawrence-Zúñiga 2003)

5. Ethnic understanding of use and perception
- Socially meaningful ethnic categorizing of negative experiences
- Relationality of place: general & practical
Relational statuses:
Customers ~Outsiders ~Newcomers
Patrons
Residents ~Established ~Old residents
Ethnicity, but:
Language: ‘knowing’, connection, distinguishing, establishing
Social oldness
Knowledge

6. Thank you
Questions & Discussion
Presentation based on: draft-article ‘Ethnic categorization of the use and perspection
of public space. A case study in a multi-ethnic neighbourhood. By Linda Zuijderwijk &
Jack Burgers, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Department of Sociology
zuijderwijk@fsw.eur.nl

7. References
• Brubaker, R. (2008). Ethnicity without groups. Archives Européennes De Sociology, 43(2), 163 -
189.
• Elias, N., & Scotson, J. L. (1965). The established and the outsiders: A sociological enquiry into
community problems. Londen: Frank Cass & Co.
• Gemeente Rotterdam, Centrum voor Onderzoek en Statistiek. (2011). Buurtinformatie
rotterdam digitaal. Retrieved 5/12, 2011, from http://www.rotterdam.buurtmonitor.nl/
• Lofland, L. (1973). A world of strangers. New York: Basic Books, Inc., Publishers.
• Low, S., & Lawrence-Zúñiga, D. (2003). Locating culture. In S. M. Low, & D. Lawrence-Zuniga
(Eds.), Anthropology of space and place, locating culture (pp. 1 - 47)
• Low, S., Taplin, D., & Scheld, S. (2005). Rethinking urban parks : Public space & cultural
diversity. Austin, TX: University of Texas Press.
• Madanipour, A. (2004). Marginal public spaces in european cities Journal of Urban Design,
9(6), 267-- 286.
• May, D., M. (2004). The interplay of three established-outsider figurations in a deprived inner-
city neighbourhood. Urban Studies, 41(11), 2159 - 2179.
• Reijndorp, A. (2004). Stadswijk. stedenbouw en dagelijks leven. Rotterdam: NAi Uitgevers.
• Taplin, D., Scheld, S., & Low, S. (2002). Rapid ethnographic assessment in urban parks: A case
study of independence national historical park. Human Organization, 61(1), 80.
• Vertovec, S. (2007). Super-diversity and its implications. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 30(6), 1024
- 1054.
• Weeks, M. F., & Moore, R. P. (1981). Ethnicity-of-interviewer effects on ethnic respondents.
The Public Opinion Quarterly, 45(2), 245 - 249.
• Wimmer, A. (2007). How (not) to think about ethnicity in immigrant societies: A boundary
making perspective (Working paper No. 44). Oxford: ESRC Centre on Migration, Policy and
Society. University of Oxford.