Separate Menus In Dallas-Fort Worth. Examining The Dynamics Between the Food Environment and Residential Segregation.

• In Event: 189 - Section on Community and Urban Sociology Refereed Roundtable Session and Business Meeting
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 08. Racial and Ethnic Segregation

Abstract

While abundant literature on the differential food landscape, the underlying pathways by which residential segregation impacts the food environment have not been examined previously. This paper specifically relates the different dimensions of residential segregation with the food environment in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) metropolis.
Variance function regression (VFR) is used to simultaneously model the means and variances, and therefore the net effects of residential segregation on the food environment. Since social and economic processes across DFW may have systematic spatial components, we also account for spatial autocorrelation, an important consideration for the inherently spatial issue of place-based food access.
Results show very similar patterns of associations, but the effect sizes are larger for the general food environment and not as pronounced when only healthy food is considered. There are positive association for segregation of Hispanics, Asians, and the Affluent. This implies that increased segregation may in fact be beneficial to these groups. A variety of different factors at play may allow for food retail market to be at the advantage of these particular demographic groups. However, market mechanisms are not benefiting segregated Blacks or the segregated Poor. There is hence a need for external intervention to alter the food landscape for these groups that do not benefit from market mechanisms.
By shedding light on the specific aspects of residential segregation that are related to the food environment, this research fits into both the debate over the consequences of residential segregation and the debate over effective food retail zoning and accessibility.

Author

• Ferzana Havewala, University of Baltimore