Patterns of Intergroup Contact in Public Spaces: Micro-Ecology of Segregation in Australian Communities

Naomi Priest, Yin Paradies, Angeline Ferdinand, Lobna Rouhani and Margaret Kelaher
Additional contact information
Naomi Priest: McCaughey Centre, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, 5/207 Bouverie Street, Carlton, VIC 3010, Australia
Yin Paradies: Centre for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin Univeristy, Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia
Angeline Ferdinand: Centre for Health Policy, Programs & Economics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, 4/207 Bouverie Street Carlton, VIC 3010, Australia
Lobna Rouhani: Centre for Health Policy, Programs & Economics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, 4/207 Bouverie Street Carlton, VIC 3010, Australia
Margaret Kelaher: Centre for Health Policy, Programs & Economics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, 4/207 Bouverie Street Carlton, VIC 3010, Australia

Societies, 2014, vol. 4, issue 1, 1-15

Abstract: The use of public spaces can promote social cohesion and facilitate interpersonal interactions within the community. However, the ways racial and ethnic groups interact in public spaces can also reflect and influence informal segregation in the wider community. The present study aimed to examine patterns of intergroup contact within public spaces in Victoria, Australia through short-term observation in four localities. Data were collected on within-group, intergroup and absence of contact for people from minority and majority groups. A total of 974 contacts were observed. Findings indicate that in the observed public spaces, people from visible minority groups tended to have no contact with others or to interact with people from other ethnic/racial groups. In contrast, those from the majority group tended to interact predominately with other majority group members. This suggests that majority group members are more likely to ‘self-segregate’ in public spaces than those from minority groups.

Keywords: intergroup contact; public space; segregation; Australia; observation; diversity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A13 A14 P P0 P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 Z1 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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