The Gentrification Project
“Root shock, at the level of the individual, is a profound emotional upheaval that destroys the working model of the world that had existed in the individual’s head…at the level of the local community, be it neighborhood or something else, root shock ruptures bonds, dispersing people to all the directions of the compass .” – Dr. Mindy Thompson Fullilove, Root Shock
With the swelling of the world’s population and the advent of megacities, understanding how to construct cities that are sustainable, just, and equitable has never been more important. Cities confront multiple and often interconnected challenges, including gentrification, unsafe housing, pollution, food deserts, and transportation.
Understanding the urban environment is increasingly critical for dealing with contemporary wicked problems. In a series of projects, we explore changing neighborhoods within metropolitan areas as complex ecological systems—each with its own needs and distinct histories. We specifically focus on the implications of gentrification AND displacement (i.e., root shock) on health, stress, psychological well-being, and aging in place for vulnerable residents.
“Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.” – Jane Jacobs, The Death and Life of Great American Cities
Fighting Displacement Study
In a mixed-methods project, we explore the experiences of women tenants and housing advocates resisting residential displacement. Given the timing of data collection (2020-2021 and during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic), we also examine housing instability and drivers of residential displacement broadly, including evictions, gentrification, and landlord harassment. Our sample currently consists of 80 self-identified Black women actively involved in anti-displacement efforts.
Our Story, Our Voices
Our Story, Our Voices is a study of women (including non-binary, trans, and gender-nonconforming people who identify with womanhood) who identify as Black/African American or African-descended. The first wave, completed in June 2020, surveyed 945 women about psychological, psychosocial, and behavioral factors – including attitudes towards health, social issues, and discrimination.
Health + Activism Study
The Health and Activism Survey (N = 722) explores social activism, political attitudes, and perceived discrimination among younger adults (under age 35). Respondents range in age from 18-35 years old, including an oversample of traditionally underrepresented groups.
Collected during the election of 2016, during the height of unprecedented political polarization and tension, this dataset draws upon previous research in political psychology, feminist studies, and political science that contextualizes lived experiences and motivations for engagement in activism.
A substantial body of research has explored the personal and political effects of participation in specific activism and social movements— particularly the civil rights movement, the women’s movement, and the movement protesting the Vietnam war in the United States (see Cole & Stewart, 1996; Stewart et al., 1998). This research suggests that protest activism in women predicts adult political participation in much the same way as it does for men. In fact, participation in social movements has other implications for women later in life—perhaps even broader effects than for men (e.g., Fahs, 2007; McAdam, 1992), including expanding career options, impacting parenting styles, and choosing non-traditional paths in life. This work extends previous work on women’s involvement in social movements to consider the psychological correlates of empathy, as well as the health consequences of protest activism and traditional civic involvement among minoritized groups.