Abstract
Residents of disadvantaged neighborhoods, or communities that are burdened by the lack of financial resources and economic stability, are exposed to higher levels of crime and violence. These residents also lack the economic mobility needed to increase earning potential as a way of climbing up the proverbial socioeconomic ladder. Since disadvantaged neighborhoods tend to be racially homogenous, historical and systematic discrimination has led to a creation of poverty that negatively impacts minorities, especially African Americans who reside in these areas. Social disorder and diminishing resources to deter crime serve as two primary characteristics seen in disadvantaged neighborhoods. Over time, the intersection of poverty, race, and economic disadvantage has led to a decrease in the quality of life and higher rates of health disparities among residents of impoverished communities, especially among African-American women. This chapter discusses how historical aspects of racism and the creation of power systematically led to the racial divide that plagues most disadvantaged neighborhoods. We use results from the HPTN 064 study to illustrate how social disorder and lack of economic mobility lead to negative health outcomes for women of color.
“I don’t feel safe, and that’s not cool for a young lady …”
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Parker, K.A., Haley, D.F., Bishop, L., Bota, D. (2017). Chapter 10 Physical Safety and Neighborhood Issues. In: O'Leary, A., Frew, P. (eds) Poverty in the United States. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-43833-7_10
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