Korver-Glenn Examines Narrative and Performative Aspects of Immigrant and Native-born Residents’ Neighborhood Meaning-making
Posted: 1/22/2026 (CSDE Research)
In a recent article in Identities, CSDE External Affiliate Elizabeth Korver-Glenn (University of North Carolina) examined the narrative and performative aspects of immigrant and native-born residents’ neighborhood meaning-making. The research team drew from 37 in-depth interviews to understand how immigrant and native-born Swedish people perceive immigrant neighborhoods in two Swedish cities. Most respondents perceived immigrant neighborhoods as stigmatized, and most of these respondents engaged in discursive destigmatization of immigrant neighborhoods. For some respondents, discursive destigmatization extended to their actions–they were current residents who preferred to continue living in their neighborhoods. For others–all of whom were non-residents of immigrant neighborhoods–discursive destigmatization remained surface-level: they reported avoiding or preferring not to live in these areas. Finally, some respondents narratively reinscribed neighborhood stigma and expressed a desire to leave or avoid these areas. The results highlight the urgency of ameliorating material inequalities between neighborhoods rather than assuming a goal of integration.