In the Fall semester of my sophomore year at the University of Michigan, I took Sociology 101. I dedicated the final essay of this class to a sociological examination of life in a microcosm in New York City. I focused in on income and lifestyle inequities on the border of W 16th street in New York City.

 

The title was “Stratification: A Tale of Two Neighborhoods,” and was a sociological account of the intersection between two vastly different lifestyles in New York.

 

This was a very important piece to me when I wrote it, and actually became the topic of argument and discussion between my GSI and myself during the time. Because of the slight controversy of my writing in this class, this essay has remained on my mind since the time at which I wrote.

 

Well, I decided to do it over again, this time expanding the audience past the merely academic medium, instead repurposing it into a journalistic piece. The purpose of this piece would be to explore this idea of boundaries and inequalities on W 16th Street, but also inspire my readers to become more conscious of inequalities that exist.

 

I took a far less scientific approach, and in doing so, felt I could do the topic justice. The new piece takes the title "Stratified: A Tale of Neighbors In New York." 

 

Take that GSI Jessica.