Visualising Social Divisions in Berlin: Childrenʹs After-School Activities in Two Contrasted City Neighbourhoods

The article raises the issue of interconnectedness of social and spatial divisions, and addresses this issue through considering the phenomenon of urban segregation. The study explores childrenʹs and young peopleʹs experiences in two socially contrasted neighbourhoods in Berlin through subjective maps drawn by the children. The article focuses on major differences between childrenʹs representations of their "subjective territory" in the two segregated areas. Such territory looks larger and better explored in the drawings of children from a socially advantaged area, who picture a dense network of after-school "enrichment" activities and friendsʹ homes. In contrast, children, mostly migrant, from a socially disadvantaged area depict rather few places for spending time after school, one of the most important of them being a free-access youth club. The article argues that childrenʹs social exploration of their neighbourhood is activity-bound and depends on financial resources and cultural capital available to these children.