Wirth + Merry

The two readings “Urbanism As a Way of Life” by Louis Wirth and “Urban Danger” by Sally Engle Merry, were probably the only thing I’ve ever read that made me think so much about how I interact with others. Wirth’s writing was mostly about his definition of a city and how city folks’ social interactions with people are superficial. His definition of a city was a highly populated, highly dense, heterogeneous place. Merry referred to Wirth in her writings but disagreed in some ways. She believed the Wirth was describing the effects of industrialization and not urbanization. Merry’s article focused on her research pertaining to the fear the residents possessed and how different their perceptions were.

                Wirth was a seemly gloomy person who saw the glass half empty instead of the glass half full. He had many ideas that city people would agree is true some of the time. He state that cities and divded based on race and ethnicity and there is limited social interaction between different races. He considers reactions between everyday people are superficial. People are living in a world of strangers and do not care to meet someone new unless it’s for their own selfish needs. There is a deep lack of trust that roots from the unfamiliarity of the people in the neighborhood.  He compares city life to a mosaic. Together the pieces make a painting but they are obviously separated. Cities have no type of get together for all and no tradition that binds people together.

                Merry’s findings were similar to Wirth’s. The idea that people are divided and only interact with their own race is shown in Merry’s findings. She also found the people would not greet their neighbors which supports Wirth as well. She did a study in a primarily Chinese housing project that had all types of nationalities. All these people lived in the same neighborhood and faced the same dangers but not all of them were afraid and some felt safe in their environment. There are so many things these people fear and the deep root of their fear is their unfamiliarity with the person. When the meet a stranger their danger light comes on and they expect for the worse. Meeting someone new is not an exciting experience for city people according to Merry.

                I don’t agree with some of Wirth’s ideas but there are many ideas I believe I cannot argue. I can identify with those scared feelings and those feelings of not wanting to talk to strangers unless I absolutely have to. Many of the suspicious activity Merry witnessed I witness myself in my own neighborhood. I can guess that many other cities also have this similar behavior. How can someone not be afraid when they are surrounded by unpredictable, rude, strangers? I do believe living in a city can be like a jail sentence, your freedom is limited.