Examine_the_Argument_That_‘Good_Fences_Make_Good_Neighbours’.

Examine the argument that ‘Good fences make good neighbours’. This essay will examine the argument that good fences, such as privacy and distance, material infrastructures (fences, hedges, gates, doors, etc) make good neighbours. It will look at the term identity, specifically how relational identities exist between neighbours in their street and wider community. It will examine qualitative evidence such as studies relating to the concept of neighbouring in UK society (Abrams and Brown, 1984), (Wilmott, 1986) social order, geographical and cultural differences in different societies (Brandes, 1975), and to show how society can be made and repaired after it breaks down (Kate Fox, 2004). The term ‘identity’ is often widely used but rather difficult to define. This is because people have multiple social identities. A social identity is an identity given by connections to other people and social situations - group or collective identities (gender, age, nationality, etc.), situated identities – where people are and what they are doing, and how they can be connected to a street or wider neighbourhood, relational identities - refer to relationships between people such as family groups, employers and employees, buyer s and sellers, etc. Each of these categories can be used to describe both similarities and differences between people. For example, two people sharing the same gender or nationality, yet fall into different categories because of different age groups. Over the decades, sociologists and environmental psychologists, in particular have been interested in the study of neighbourhoods and the relational identities between neighbours. Most people have neighbours and therefore the practice of being a neighbour is widely understood, yet at the same time, can often be taken for granted. The main thread of social science research seems to concern the question of ‘what makes a good neighbour'’ In a range of studies conducted during the 1980’s, principle neighbourly characteristics highlighted by the British public were friendliness, helpfulness, while on the other hand, distance (Abrams and Brown, 1984 cited in Byford, 2009, p. 254). Neighbours are expected to have a ‘general disposition towards friendliness’ while, at the same time, respecting others’ ‘need for privacy and reserve’ (Wilmott, 1986, p.55 cited in Byford, 2009, p. 253). However, the practice of being a good neighbour seems quite a complex one when trying to strike a balance between being a friendly and helpful neighbour, while also knowing when to respect a neighbour’s need for privacy. Many streets and neighbourhoods consist of both physical and symbolic ‘fences’ (privacy and separation, walls, gates, hedges, etc.) that encourages separation between neighbours, yet, at the same time, neighbours are expected to form the basis of a community. In 2004, a study into neighbouring in Manchester, residents described how they would mainly interact with neighbours when they passed in the street, or when an opportunity arose when they communicated within their gardens over walls or hedges. Many people would not even consider knocking on another neighbours door, for fear of causing an intrusion. Rules and habits exist within neighbourhoods to maintain order and structure, and to regulate how people interact and communicate with each other. This concept is known as ‘social order’. Social order is ‘a stable social situation in which connections are maintained without change, or else change occurs in a predictable way’ (Byford, 2009, p. 173.) However, as neighbourhoods tend to have their own set of rules, habits or norms, they are not universally shared and differ subject to various geographical areas and cultures. In the 1970’s, anthropologist Stanley Brandes travelled to the village of Becedas in Spain, where he observed the everyday habits and customs of locals. The cultural differences between Becedas and that of Manchester in the UK were quite profound. In Becedas, people were more inclined to enter neighbour’s homes without consideration for any need for privacy, doors were kept ajar and should another neighbour refuse an invitation to another neighbour’s home, it was taken as an offence to the host. When neighbours cannot agree on a particular interpretation of neighbouring rules, disputes arise. Complaints about noisy neighbours are not an uncommon one. Most disagreements can be resolved by neighbours talking to one another, however, when communication breaks down between neighbours a formal process can be entered in to, such as mediation. Once a formal complaint has been made, a trained mediator, usually from the local council, will try to resolve the dispute to prevent it from going to court. A mediator’s role is to facilitate communication between neighbours. Social scientist Elizibeth Stokoe (2006) examined neighbourhood complaints about a very specific noise: namely, the sounds of sexual intercourse emanating from ‘next door’. This kind of complaint is not just about the volume of noise, but also the intimacy of the noise. It would seem that from the evidence relating to research into neighbouring in the UK there are various contradicting ideas of what makes a good neighbour, with people saying that friendliness and helpfulness being important factors, yet while at the same time mainly interacting with one another through both physical and symbolic ‘fences’, and expecting neighbours to respect their privacy and distance, without causing intrusion. It seems therefore enevitible that situations will occur when people are going to misinterpret the rules and habits of neighbouring and social order will constantly require repairing. References Taylor, S., (2009) ‘Who do we think we are' Identities in everyday life’in Taylor, S., Hinchcliffe, S., Clarke, J. and Bromley, S. (eds) Making Social Lives, Milton Keynes, The Open University. Byford, J. (2009) ‘Living together’, living apart: the social life of the neighbourhood’ in Taylor, S., Hinchcliffe, S., Clarke, J. and Bromley, S. (eds) Making Social Lives, Milton Keynes, The Open University. Staples, M., Meegan, J., Jeffries, E. and Bromley, S. (2009) DD101 Introducing the Social Sciences, ‘Learning Companion 2’, Milton Keynes, The Open University. ‘Studying identities’ (2009) Making Social Lives [Audio CD 2], Milton Keynes, The Open University.