The Main Features And Characteristics Of A Slum

In Katherine Boo’s “Opening Night: The scene from the airport slums,” we see the continual contrast in Mumbai between the extremely poor and the rich. She describes the effects of extreme poverty. The juxtapositions highlight the social disruption, economic disadvantages can cause. We also learn that movie’s depiction of slums is glamorized and unrealistic. Most shocking the author focuses on several characters, mostly young people (like Sunil), and describes the environment they live in. We see the overwhelming effects of extreme poverty in every aspect of their lives and realize they will not be able to escape and rise out of the slums. The lack of education and jobs are preventing these people from progressing. We realize how the rich

According to Newman (2008), housing of the poor has to allow for economic independence and self-care while providing a safe and adequate place to live. The debate about decent housing alone is sufficient to provide a healthier living environment has its roots in the late 1920s, when the unhealthy environment of the slums was associated with numerous social ills. The hands-on approach of the housing and social service agencies was

The author Mike Davis has done countless research on the topic of urban poverty. In his studies he collects and receives his information from other sources. Perhaps this is the reason why he has a negative view on slums. This is illustrated in his piece “Planet of Slums” as he discusses the politics, urban development, and methods within the slums population. According to Davis, slums and urban poverty have and will continue to significantly increase. While doing so, the gap in exclusion and inequality will grow. As a result, this will weaken urban elites in their work to utilize cities as engines of growth. Slums and slum population are classified as those who are living below the poverty lines, all while, being associated with overcrowding, having poor or informal housing, inadequate access to safe water and sanitation, and insecurity of tenure. This is being recognized as an international phenomenon. To emphasis this phenomenon, approximately half of the slum population in most

cities often ask where the slums are. The answer is that there really aren't any

Gentrification systematically displaces the most vulnerable population from their resident communities. It is not matter of relocation for the vulnerable population, but in most instances, the exposure to a more exacerbated disparaging community and shelter source, homelessness and/or, health and behavioral issues. The costs of gentrification is that it displaces the poor and unstable along with small and unique businesses located in the community and replaces them with the wealthy.

Mike Davis, author of Planet of Slums, predicts the direction in which the world’s cities are headed, and how the changes in living conditions are only going to deteriorate if certain trends continue. The title of his book explains Davis’s vision for the future of cities as he feels there is enough evidence pointing towards an exponential rise in slum populations across the world’s largest cities. Additionally, he expresses his opinion on many issues regarding the rapid rise in developing cities’ slum populations, although he offers very one-sided arguments geared towards those who feel the current system is causing more problems rather than improving current conditions. This causes Davis to overlook the problems of slums as resolvable through different modes of assistance such as international aid programs. Instead, he views aid programs as the root cause of imbalance created during industrialization. Throughout the book, Davis presents information that confirms his preconceptions towards the slums. Therefore, all the evidence that is presented by him portrays confirmation bias as Davis fails to mention anything about the resolution of the problem of the growing number of slums and instead sees this problem as unavoidable. Particularly, Davis’ writing, although intended for the general population, is more geared towards critics who have similar ideas. Instead of providing the means through which the economy could be improved and the problem of slums could be resolved, it is

There are existing organizations such as the National Low Income Housing Coalition, National Alliance to End Homelessness, and World Food Program USA which fight to prevent homelessness and food insecurity, consequences of gentrification. However, there is still room for improvement. Also, there remains a gap in research regarding gentrification and whether it improves or deteriorates health. It is important to note that there seems to be a lack of current research about gentrification. Moreover, much of the research conducted about gentrification did not take place in the United States.

Poverty and oppression is a serious condition that is prevalent even in today’s modern society. Women and children are exposed to poverty and subjected to a life of injustice. One of the countries where such problems still occur is in India. Despite the country’s modernization, there lies an undercity where the disparity of wealth is transparent. These social problems are thoroughly described in movies and literature such as Slumdog Millionaire and Behind the Beautiful Forevers. In the book Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Catherine Boo, the author describes slum life for a set of individuals and the hardship that their social conditions confined them to. Another movie that gave insight to slum life in India is Slumdog Millionaire

Gentrification is the result of renewing or rebuilding in urban neighborhoods , which has become a common controversial topic in urban planning. As the rise of gentrification increases basic upgrades such as sanitation and safety requirements are being put in the environment. Two distinct articles contemplate on the idea of gentrification are, The Independent’s “Artisan cafes and luxury flats: How bad can gentrification really be?” by Kashmira Gander from the June 2, 2016 and CNN News’ “American Opportunity: How gentrification may benefit the poor” by Patrick Gillespie from the November 12, 2015. Gander interprets gentrification does not improve the economy but affects the wellbeing of owners to be displaced and in greater terms lose their job and become homeless whilst in contrast Gillespie focuses on the benefits and the greater opportunities for the proletariat. Both articles differ on the topic between gentrification.

There is little or no government regulation, giving power to people to make their own laws. The police have power over the people in slums by charging them unfair fees when they get arrested. There is no law saying they should be able to do that, but there is no government intervention to stop it. “The idea was to get terrified prisoners to pay everything they had, and everything they could secure from a money lender, to stop a false criminal charge from being recorded. Beatings, though outlawed the human rights code, were practical, as they increased the price that detainees would pay for their release”(107). People that live in the slums tend to avoid socializing with others because of the fear of being

As the streets become crowded with the “begging mothers” and whining babies, slums multiply and worsen.

Conversely, in MEDC countries slums are not such a problem because urbanisation happened many years ago after industrialisation and the country has moved on economically. The problem here is suburbanisation. The people who can move away from the central business district because it is loud and polluted but it left the unfortunate people who could not afford to move out in the CBD. This can lead to a state of urban decline. If there is a high percentage of council owned buildings the resident feel like they do not need to look after the environment because it is not their problem, graffiti and littering is a result of not caring. The situation from here can just get worse and worse and crime rates goes up and empty buildings are left unused.

This Underclass is typified by factors such as generation poverty, dependence on welfare, ethnicity, lack of education, trauma, health issues, mental illness and poor diet, even before they experience homelessness. They lack the resources to resolve their situation on their own and combined with homelessness are likely to remain in this underclass even with assistance. As the housing becomes increasingly hard to afford, individuals are forced to source their accommodation in suburbs with high crime rates, lack of amenities and poor access to public transport which contributes to areas considered the “underclass'.

Gentrification has been a controversial issue both in urban planning and politics primarily due to the displacement of poor people by the rich folks (Shaw & Hagemans, 2015). Many individuals have viewed gentrification as an illegal act that should be avoided at all costs. On the other hand, another group of people believe that gentrification is the way forward to promoting growth and development. With such contrasting ideas, this paper is going to take a look at gentrification from a positive and negative perspective, its effects, and how it can be prevented or contained. Apart from this, the paper will also address the following questions.

Slums are hindrance to the achievement of economic growth and development. It is the duty of the government to plan effectively towards the achievement of quality life within the cities. Slums contribute towards the presence of criminal activities within the cities and unemployment hence a significant force towards the overall economic development. Upgrading of slums is vital in the process of offering economic, social, institutional, and cultural services to the city dwellers like other citizens.