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The Metropolitan Habitus: Its Manifestations, Locations, and Consumption Profiles

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  • Richard Webber

    (Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 6BT, England)

Abstract

Geographers and sociologists have recognised the emergence of new variants of the middle-class neighbourhood characterised by a strong focus on the development of human capital, a high level of connectedness to global networks, and a strong sense of identity based on aesthetics and taste. Such neighbourhoods are typically associated with the inner areas of ‘metropolitan’ centres and, according to Bourdieu, are manifestations of ‘milieux’ in which residents increasingly use taste as a basis for the ascription and enjoyment of status by way of contrast to residents in neighbourhoods in ‘suburban’, ‘provincial’, and ‘small-town’ settings where status continues to derive primarily from occupation and/or the ownership of key consumer products. This paper explores the extent to which qualitative evidence for the existence of these different milieux can be supported by quantitative evidence, using classifications of residential neighbourhoods originally developed by commercial organisations to assist marketers target the promotion of consumer products. The paper uses a study by Peter Hall, which locates urban centres in England and Wales on a central place hierarchy, to differentiate those types of middle-class neighbourhood whose location is characteristically inner metropolitan from those principally associated with suburban and/or small-town locations. These types of neighbourhood are then contrasted in terms of their residents' role within the urban system, in terms of their spatial distribution, and in terms of their consumption of products and media. Results from similar classification schemes developed in other countries are used to evaluate the extent to which these types of metropolitan habitus are characteristic of other advanced industrial societies.

Suggested Citation

  • Richard Webber, 2007. "The Metropolitan Habitus: Its Manifestations, Locations, and Consumption Profiles," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 39(1), pages 182-207, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:sae:envira:v:39:y:2007:i:1:p:182-207
    DOI: 10.1068/a38478
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Tim Butler, 2002. "Thinking Global but Acting Local: The Middle Classes in the City," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 7(3), pages 50-68, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Nathan Marom, 2014. "Relating a City's History and Geography with Bourdieu: One Hundred Years of Spatial Distinction in Tel Aviv," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(4), pages 1344-1362, July.
    2. Tim Butler, 2007. "Re‐urbanizing London Docklands: Gentrification, Suburbanization or New Urbanism?," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(4), pages 759-781, December.

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