The ambivalence of gentrifiers

This thesis explores the paradox faced by 25-34 year-old, White, well-educated persons who choose to live in predominantly low-income neighborhoods. In particular, this thesis asks if gentrifiers are aware of gentrification and their role in it, and then how they navigate that paradox. The thesis is grounded in interviews with residents of three Boston neighborhoods that are in various stages of gentrification: the South End, Jamaica Plain, and Dorchester. The interviews are framed within a synthesis of academic theory, a description of the introduction of the term "gentrification" to the United States, and common perceptions of gentrifiers as portrayed in academic and popular cultural. This framework is meant to expose the difficulty of using the term consistently, and its emotional power. Readers who are not familiar with the term or its complex background should find this framework helpful in forming a basic and thoughtful understanding. More advanced readers should use this thesis to critically explore their own position and build a more sophisticated understanding. Though the core meaning of the term "gentrification" has not changed substantially from its original definition in 1964, a wide variety of qualifiers have been attached to the term resulting in highly positive and highly negative connotations.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Center for Real Estate

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2006

Author dc:creator

• Novak, Alison Elizabeth

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Terry S. Szold.

• Urban Studies and Planning.
• Center for Real Estate.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/58630

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/58630