The Dignity of Resistance: Women Residents' Activism in Chicago Public Housing

by Roberta M. Feldman, Susan Stall

Overview

This comprehensive case study chronicles the four decade history of Chicago's Wentworth Gardens public housing residents' grassroots activism. It explores why and how the African-American women residents creatively and effectively engaged in organizing efforts to resist increasing government disinvestment in public housing and the threat of demolition. Through the inspirational voices of the activists, Roberta Feldman and Susan Stall challenge portrayals of public housing residents as passive and alienated victims of despair.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521593205
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	02/09/2004
Series:	Environment and Behavior
Pages:	410
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x 1.06(d)

About the Author

Roberta M. Feldman is Professor of Architecture at the School of Architecture and the Co-Director of the City Design Center at the College of Architecture and the Arts, University of Illinois, Chicago.

Susan Stall is Chair of the Sociology Department and Professor of Sociology and Women's Studies at Northeastern Illinois University.

Table of Contents

Foreword Sheila Radford-Hill; Preface and acknowledgments; Part I. Introduction: 1. Struggle for homeplace; Part II. Wentworth Gardens' Historic Context: 2. US public housing policies: Wentworth Gardens' historic backdrop; 3. Memory of a better past, reality of the present: the impetus for resident activism; Part III. Everyday Resistance in the Expanded Private Sphere: 4. The community household: the foundation of everyday resistance; 5. The local advisory council (LAC): a site of women-centered organizing; 6. Women-centered leadership: a case study; 7. The appropriation of homeplace: organizing for the spatial resources to sustain everyday life; Part IV. Transgressive Resistance in the Public Sphere: 8. The White Sox Battle: protest and betrayal; 9. Linking legal action and economic development: tensions and strains; 10. Becoming resident managers: a bureaucratic quagmire; Part V. Conclusions: 11. Resistance in context; Epilogue; Appendices; References; Index.

Editorial Reviews

"Reveals the inadequacy of public housing policy and the contradictory approaches that typically fail to take into consideration the needs and perspectives of low-income residents. All urban policy-makers should heed the many lessons embedded in this richly detailed study. The significance of The Dignity of Resistance lies not only in the richness of detail the authors provide, but also in the way the authors weave description, biographical narratives of the activists, and theoretical analysis throughout the chapters. Given the interdisciplinary approach, the book should be of interest to urban studies scholars, social geographers, sociologists, women's studies faculty, and social policy analysts as well as anyone advocating for the right of low-income residents to a decent quality of life." International Journal of Urban and Regional Research

"The Dignity of Resistance presents a fascinating story of struggle and resistance....extremely well documented and contextualized. Each aspect that is discussed — social, physical, or policy related — is thoroughly situated with respect to historical antecedents. These ties make the study well grounded and easy to relate to other research on (public) housing, social thought, activism, and empowerment.....completely convincing." Journal of Planning Literature

"Planners who work with public housing can avoid surprises by reading this book and acquainting themselves with some of the smart, determined people who live there." Planning Magazine

"A story worth telling" Contemporary Psychology

"...the authors have produced a solid piece of primary research that will be useful to researchers who study women's activism more broadly and women's grassroots activism specifically...This book is impressive in its exhaustive documentation. It would forma useful case study for courses in sociology, political science, and women's studies that attempt to unpack the dynamics of resistance." -Politics, Social Movements, and The State, Laura Suski, Dalhousie University

From the Publisher