Gender, Social Disorganization Theory, and the Locations of Sexually Oriented Businesses

Abstract

Communities are increasingly developing zoning ordinances for sexually oriented businesses based on presumed negative “secondary effects.” Utilizing social disorganization theory, this study examines neighborhood differences among three types of sexually oriented businesses. Based on census-tract data from four urban Texas counties, findings show that census tracts with only adult sexuality boutiques, which primarily market to women consumers, are significantly more socially organized than census tracts with only adult entertainment clubs, only adult bookstores, and more than one type of adult business. This suggests that the gendered nature of sexual consumerism also has implications for the locations of these businesses.

The author acknowledges the helpful comments of Toni Terling Watt, Nathan W. Pino, Chad L. Smith, Deborah C. Edwards, Robert J. Edwards, and the anonymous reviewers.

Notes

^a n = 1627 (census tracts).

^b n = 1,606 (census tracts) for the overall index.

^a Eigenvalue is 5.894 for Factor 1.

n = 1,606 (census tracts).

∗p < .05, ∗∗p < .01 (two-tailed differences of means test).

n = 1,606 (census tracts).

∗p < .05, ∗∗p < .01.

n = 148 (census tracts).

∗p < .05, ∗∗p < .01.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Michelle L. Edwards

MICHELLE L. EDWARDS is currently working on her doctoral degree at Washington State University in the Department of Sociology. She completed her master's degree at Texas State University in 2009. Her research interests include gender, race, and class, environmental sociology, and research methods.