Mixing social? Intervention and the exercise of parenthood in a context of gentrification in Montreal
“Social mix” or “diversity” is part of public authority strategies to diversify poor neighbourhoods and to promote greater social cohesion between inhabitants of various social, cultural and economic backgrounds. In the context of gentrification, where more affluent populations settle in traditionally poor neighbourhoods of the city, social mix policies aim to maintain access to the city for people of all social categories. Although this phenomenon and its impacts are relatively well documented related to housing and the consumer goods sectors, we still know very little about how social mix affects social intervention, and more particularly, services around early childhood education and parenting support. This article is based on an ethnographic study combining document analysis, participant observations, 16 interviews with mothers who used public and community services meant to support parenting and child development and 14 with frontline and community workers. My observations suggest that the project of social mix, while it aims to promote inclusion and universal access of all mothers to services, it has certain practical limitations. Paradoxically, it discourages some mothers, especially the poorest and the most marginalized ones, from remaining connected to the services intended for them.