Unhealthy Cities

The purpose of this book is to show the important role that space and place plays in the health of urban residents, particularly those living in high poverty ghettos. The book brings together research and writing from a variety of disciplines to demonstrate the health costs of being poor in America’s cities. Both authors are committed to raising awareness of structural factors that promote poverty and injustice in a society that proclaims its commitment to equality of opportunity. Our health is often dramatically affected by where we live; some parts of the city seem to be designed to make people sick. The book is intended for students and professionals in urban sociology, medical sociology, public health, and community planning.

"Unhealthy Cities reminds social scientists that if we are interested in social inequalities by place, race, class, and age, we must attend to disparities in health outcomes. For health researchers this book is a cogent and comprehensive review of how sociological thinking can inform our work."—John R. Logan, Sociology, Brown University "For many years Kevin Fitzpatrick and Mark LaGory have been arguing the case for an integrated place-based perspective on health, illness, and community life. Unhealthy Cities is their best joint work to date. The book is a must-read for both urbanists and medical sociologists."—Kent Schwirian, Sociology and Family Medicine, Ohio State University "Unlike other contemporary authors who make 'place' equivalent to the people and groups that live in particular areas, Fitzpatrick and LaGory delve deeply into the tangible, multi-dimensional hazardous aspects of local areas that convey potential risks for individuals and subgroups in cities."—William Michelson, Sociology, University of Toronto "This is an essential source for policymakers, public health practitioners, and those who research and teach about social stratification, and urban, environmental, and/or medical sociology."—Meghan Ashland Rich, University of Scranton, "Unhealthy Cities reminds social scientists that if we are interested in social inequalities by place, race, class, and age, we must attend to disparities in health outcomes. For health researchers this book is a cogent and comprehensive review of how sociological thinking can inform our work"—John R. Logan, Sociology, Brown University "For many years Kevin Fitzpatrick and Mark LaGory have been arguing the case for an integrated place-based perspective on health, illness and community life. Unhealthy Cities is their best joint work to date. The book is a must read for both urbanists and medical sociologists."—Kent Schwirian, Sociology and Family Medicine, Ohio State University "Unlike other contemporary authors who make "place" equivalent to the people and groups that live in particular areas, Fitzpatrick and LaGory delve deeply into the tangible, multi-dimensional hazardous aspects of local areas that convey potential risks for individuals and subgroups in cities."—William Michelson, Sociology, University of Toronto "An important contribution to the literature of urban poverty and urban health, combining the perspectives of social sciences, geography, and public health, to help clarify why poor neighborhoods in America’s cities continue to perpetuate the shameful "contradiction of great wealth and mediocre health" that plagues our nation."—Howard Frumkin, School of Public Health, University of Washington "Fitzpatrick and LaGory have written a lively, insightful, and extensively researched book on the ecology of disadvantage. Drawing upon current research on the effects of neighborhood structures on health, the authors have produced a landmark work that not only analyzes problems but offers solutions"—William C. Cockerham, Sociology, University of Alabama at Birmingham

Kevin Fitzpatrick is Professor and Jones Chair in Community, Department of Sociology at the University of Arkansas. Mark LaGory is Professor and Chair of Sociology and Social Work at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.