Behind closed doors: Exploring the gated community in Ontario

Abstract

This study examines the ways in which residents of a Canadian gated community in southern Ontario, Canada socially construct the meaning of both "community" and "safety". In particular, the study examines whether the assumptions and findings on community safety found in the literature on American gated communities apply to similar communities in Canada. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with four participants to explore the underlying assumptions and stereotypes that participants used in the discussions of community safety. Participants defined a safe community as one that is: homogeneous; excludes strangers and 'others'; provides both physical and social security; built on a sense of community life; and governed by rules and regulations. This study found empirical evidence that helps to validate many of the assumptions in the existing literature: the restriction of access helps residents feel safe; physical infrastructure is needed in order to feel safe; the ability to recognize who is a member of the community makes residents feel safe; and gated communities are viewed by their residents as nostalgic neighborhoods.