Welcome to The Woodlands…
Welcome to The Woodlands, Texas. Located an hour north of Houston, we are a cozy, thriving city that just recently surpassed the 100,000-resident achievement. Though small in size, we pride ourselves on our diverse equality in all facets of life; that is why more than 85% of our population identifies as white (World Population Review, 2020). Additionally, our intense focus on equality leads us to only endorse the most affordable businesses to ensure all of our wonderful residents maintain a comfortable style of living. Are you searching for an inclusive, top-notch school for your child to attend? Look no further than one of our many luxurious private schools. An annual deposit of $30,000 (purchase does not include textbooks, lunches, or housing) grants your child the opportunity to learn at a private, college-preparatory school. Are you in dire need of an opulent backpack to carry your textbooks? Fear not, our two-story Louis Vuitton store located in the center of The Woodlands has got you covered. This store has a wide array of exotic leather apparel, expertly tailored to fit your budget, so long as you maintain an excess of at least $10,000 in disposable income purely for extravagant backpacks.
Though the public may preach of equality for residents who reside in The Woodlands, the obvious endorsement of certain businesses (such as a two-story Louis Vuitton store) and the evident demographics (the vast majority of residents in The Woodlands identifying as white) paint a frighteningly different picture. Assuming no Township Committee Member actively tries to discriminate against lower-income families, why is there such a drastic assortment of businesses obviously targeted toward more affluent residents? Initially, my thirteen years of living in The Woodlands encouraged me to argue that the population of the city strives, albeit unconsciously, to preserve a reputation of affluence for The Woodlands. However, additional expert commentary has led me to conclude that there may exist a more concrete, rather than psychological rationale, for the continued affluence of The Woodlands.
Perhaps one of the most tangible traits of any human being is their identifying race. Although the issue of racial equality is being intensely fought over today, history mercilessly confined black Americans to walk within the restrictive bounds of second-hand citizenship. While the tangible laws of a crueler time may not exist today, the consequences of such discrimination are very prevalent within our society. In the book, The Color of Wealth: The Story Behind the U.S. Racial Wealth Divide, the authors emphasize, “an estimated 80 percent of assets come from transfers from prior generations” (Lui, M. et al. 2006). The authors then describe how “white people are much more likely to inherit money from deceased relatives than people of color” (Lui, M. et al. 2006). These assertions provide rudimentary evidence for the affluence within The Woodlands as compared to the surrounding Houston area. More than 22.5% of Houstonian residents identify as African American compared to the mere 4.31% of the population of The Woodlands. (World Population Review, 2020). Combining Lui’s assertions and the census data from The Woodlands, it can be inferred that a significantly larger percentage of The Woodlands’ population would be expected to have previously inherited wealth from deceased ancestors.
This leads to a fundamental principle of Economics 101: the greater demand there is for a product, the higher the price will be. Essentially, businesses sell expensive products in The Woodlands because they know that there is a demographic of people who are able to buy these extravagant items. This principle applies to school systems as well; particularly private schools, as each private institution is operated nearly identically to how a business is run. Driven by convenience, residents often settle near the school of their choosing. Families who choose to attend a private school that charges $30,000 are often financially well off; thus, their settling near the school increases the wealth disparity within that region. Researchers, Richard J. Murnane and Sean Reardon, argue, “because students often attend schools close to home, increased segregation results in the concentration of low-income students into schools associated with a reduced quality of education” (Russell Sage Foundation, 2014). One of my friends who attended a private school for her entire high school career stated, “I had the opportunity to attend the school because my parents could afford [it],” she continues addressing the issue presented by Murnane and Reardon by saying, “[attending was] a privilege that I have…[but] many don’t which makes that school and the benefits…inaccessible to many other equally deserving kids” (John Cooper School Alum, 2020). I fully agree with both of these commentators. Often, lower-income families are “forced” into areas of lower-socioeconomic status, because the businesses (including schooling systems) in those specific areas are more tailored to their income situation.
Evidently, my living in The Woodlands provided me with a superficial realization on why my city had a reputation for being extremely affluent. Now, I understand a large part of the wealth disparity in The Woodlands is a result of compounding historical consequences and current business decisions to maximize profits. This analysis raises the question: What actions can the residents and business owners take to lessen the divide between socioeconomic classes? Gabriele Piazza, author of “How can cities help to tackle inequality?” argues, “all cities… need to encourage firms to invest in the training of their employees so that low-skilled workers can transition to better-paid jobs” (Piazza, 2016). While Piazza’s point may have some merit, I believe that he underestimates the significance of well-to-do businesses and the influence of their business models. For instance, if the wealth disparity is increased by expensive businesses entering an area, better economic equality may be achieved if these businesses change some of their expensive tendencies to more affordable products and services. This will encourage lower-income residents to settle in previously restrictive areas. Analyzing and determining potential solutions for one city’s wealth inequality can help policymakers and residents of other cities further understand how to deal with economic inequality and its suffocating effects on city residents.
“The Woodlands, Texas Population 2020.” The Woodlands, Texas Population 2020 (Demographics, Maps, Graphs), 2020, worldpopulationreview.com/us-cities/the-woodlands-tx-population.
Piazza, Gabriele. “How Can Cities Help to Tackle Inequality?” Centre for Cities, 14 Apr. 2016, www.centreforcities.org/blog/can-cities-help-tackle-inequality/.
Murnane, Richard J, and Sean Reardon. “The Role of Private Schooling in Contributing to the Increase In.” The Role of Private Schooling in Contributing to the Increase in Inequality of Educational Outcomes between Children from Low- and High-Income Families | RSF, 2014, www.russellsage.org/awarded-project/role-private-schooling-contributing-increase-inequality-educational-outcomes-between.
Vuitton, Louis. “Exotic Leather Bags.” Exotic Leather Bags Collection for MEN | LOUIS VUITTON ®, us.louisvuitton.com/eng-us/men/bags/exotic-leather-bags/_/N-id6av3.
“Houston, Texas Population 2020.” Houston, Texas Population 2020 (Demographics, Maps, Graphs), 2020, worldpopulationreview.com/us-cities/houston-tx-population.
John Cooper School Alum. Personal Interview. 20 October 2020.
Lui, Meizhu, et al. The Color of Wealth: the Story behind the U.S. Racial Wealth Divide. The New Press, 2006.
