Children: catalysts of diversity
With more children in the neighbourhood, neighbours engage in more inter-ethnic contacts. This integrating function of children is not limited to parents – all residents of neighbourhoods where many children live report more inter-ethnic exchange. This is the result of Merlin Schaeffer’s analysis of telephone interviews with 7.500 adults.
„Children are social catalysts“, explains Merlin Schaeffer. “Similar to chemical catalysts, which speed up the rate of reactions between elements, children strenghten intercultural neighbouring.” Yet, an important condition is the existence of places for encounters, like playgrounds and parks, or restaurants, cafés and bars. Areas with few public places can’t benefit from children’s catalyzing effect – irrespective of the number of persons of immigrant origin in the region.
These results are based upon the „Ethnic Diversity and Collective Action“ survey conducted between October 2009 and April 2010 in different German cities and regions. The study, which was published in the Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, formulates a clear policy implication for cities: Family friendly cities – cities that provide attractive public spaces for encounter and for the leisure time of parents and children, thus preventing young natives from moving to the outskirts – are better suited to face the challenges of an immigration society.