Weekend Trip: Liverpool & Wales

 

 

 

I have already talked a bit about Liverpool and Wales but I thought i'd try and relate my experiences there to diversity, a topic we've been discussing this week. Something I noticed about both areas over the course of the weekend was the absence of certain ethnic and racial groups. In comparison with London these two areas were significantly less diverse which prompted me to question what makes certain areas more attractive to migrants than others? As we've discussed in class this week, immigration is often the result of push and pull factors, and for most immigrants, the largest pull factor is increased job and economic opportunities. If we compare Liverpool and London, its no competition over whether who has the larger more diverse job market. This is primarily because while London is a popular tourist destination it also holds signifcant weight in the world market with its business and finance district. Liverpool on the otherhand hold most of its economic impact in its dockyard's and is not a hub for wealthy businessmen and corporate offices. Overall from the persepective of an immigrant, London is by far the best bet for new opportunities and something also has to be said for it's long history of being a place of trade and area which allowed and invited in numerous diverse groups. I would be interested to learn the origins of Liverpool as I wonder if it was established to be another version of London or did the founders set out to separate and distance themselves from the growing city and its increasing diversity. Another thing I'd be curious to watch unfold in the generation to come is will we continue to associate urban areas with diversity and rural areas without it, or will the increased interest in social equity for immigrants result in success for ethnically and racially diverse groups at a level higher than what we've witnessed this far, spurring a move from cities to rural areas as is typical of those with high incomes who are looking for a calmer life in suburban areas. Will this mean a more diverse image and definition of urban and small town areas? These are questions that are important to ask ourselves as we consider the future of some of our greatest cities, and if and how progress will affect them, including potential consequences. 

- Francesca :)