Urban Structuring, Inequalities, and Differences: Contexts and Analytical Perspectives in Two Medium-Sized Cities

Abstract

The intensification of differences and inequalities within and between Brazilian cities has highlighted the formation of socio-spatial fragmentation, particularly in metropolises but also in medium-sized cities. This process is multidimensional and requires various methodologies to  encompass its dimensions within the urban fabric, spatial  practices, and social imaginaries. In this article, we propose  to address socio-spatial fragmentation in Chapecó, SC, and  Ribeirão Preto, SP, considering their structuring processes  and the manifestation of their inequalities and differences.  The research methodology is qualitative in nature, involving interviews with city residents. These interviews are analyzed to establish comparisons and explore lived experiences within their spatial practices and daily lives. The results  demonstrate certain spatial logics of urban space  production and identify forms of socio-spatial differentiation that differ from those of the past, emphasizing the narratives of the subjects.