Abstract
A migration career, that is, a trajectory of personal migrations in space and time, is an important element in the understanding of urban residential areas. From this perspective, this paper analyzes and describes patterns of migration careers for South African people in Pretoria, South Africa. Pretoria was chosen as the study area because, in contrast with American cities, it is a city with less freedom. Sampled subjects were taken from groups of upper-class Whites, lower-class Whites and non-Whites. As for migration frequencies and motivations, there are clear differences not only between Whites and non-Whites, but also between upper-class and lower-class Whites. Each group shows a distinctive pattern of trajectories of residential shifts within Pretoria. Whites are characterized by much higher mobility than non-Whites. Their motivations and spatial trajectories are influenced by (1) the political oppression of apartheid, (2) economical affordability, and (3) a strong ethnical sense of belonging to their own communities. Spatial trajectories of South African migration careers are different from American ones. Both Whites and non-Whites in South Africa shift their residences within urban areas defined by the racial segregation imposed by apartheid. Americans move according to their preference of a place to live. This difference is derived from different urban histories; people and their lives are also different between the two societies. It should be noted that there is a strong interaction between people's urban lifestyle and the urban spatial structure. Residential differentiation is an important theme in the analysis of urban structures. Studies of migration careers in urban space are expected to give answers to fundamental questions regarding residential differentiation.
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