Keeping apart on the playground: construction of informal segregation on public playgrounds in multiethnic neighborhoods

Paajanen, P, Seppälä, T, Stevenson, C ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2438-6425, Riikonen, R and Finell, E, 2022. Keeping apart on the playground: construction of informal segregation on public playgrounds in multiethnic neighborhoods. Social Psychology Quarterly. ISSN 0190-2725 (Forthcoming)

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Abstract

Informal segregation has been widely studied in various public settings, but not on public playgrounds. Drawing on an eleven-month ethnography among mothers of young children we examine how informal segregation is (re)produced on public playgrounds in two ethnically diverse neighborhoods in Finland. Our findings reveal different normative practices. First, normative rhythms and parenting practices structure playground activities by limiting opportunities for contact between ethnic minority and majority groups and producing exclusive spaces. Second, group norms and the seeking of ethnic/racial in-group members together regulate mothers’ interaction with out-group mothers on playgrounds; mothers are inclined towards their in-group while out-group mothers are often ignored, resulting in only illusory contact. Based on our analysis, we argue that by better understanding the normative roots of segregation, more comprehensive and effective interventions can be designed to facilitate positive contact in this population.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Social Psychology Quarterly
Creators:	Paajanen, P., Seppälä, T., Stevenson, C., Riikonen, R. and Finell, E.
Publisher:	American Sociological Association
Date:	13 June 2022
ISSN:	0190-2725
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1177/01902725221116632 DOI 1591652 Other
Rights:	Accepted for publication in Social Psychology Quarterly. Reuse is restricted to non-commercial and no derivative uses.
Divisions:	Schools > School of Social Sciences
Record created by:	Laura Ward
Date Added:	18 Aug 2022 12:34
Last Modified:	18 Aug 2022 12:34
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/46890

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