Community wellbeing: The impacts of inequality, racism and environment on a Brazilian coastal slum

Abstract

This article applies the 3-dimensional wellbeing lens (based on material, relational and subjective dimensions of wellbeing) to examine the factors that affect wellbeing in a slum community (Vila dos Pescadores, in the city of Cubatão, Southeast Brazil). This wellbeing framework proves useful in understanding how community wellbeing is impacted by several negative factors: the perceptions of slums, the presence of systemic racism and growing inequality, and a range of environmental impacts arising from industrial and urban pollution, and environmental disasters. Within this mix of environmental and social impacts are links between poverty and exposure to environmental hazards, and effects of environmental racism. On the positive side, these threats to community wellbeing are countered to some extent through targeted measures carried out by the community association and its partnerships, and through beneficial governmental policy measures. Together, these responses help to reduce the detrimental effects of an unhealthy and dangerous environment, and of social concerns such as exclusion, poverty, urbanization and inequality. Key to the success of response measures are the contributions of the community leadership to improve the wellbeing of slum-dwellers by counterbalancing the effects of racism and social inequality, and implementing social programs and community facilities, thereby filling the gaps created by a lack of state support to slums. These actions illustrate what impoverished communities can do to improve livelihoods and wellbeing, and to combat problems such as environmental degradation and racial discrimination. This article also draws lessons for improving wellbeing analysis, particularly in slum communities, through a greater focus on (1) collective wellbeing and a community-focused view of wellbeing, (2) impacts of racism and inequality, and (3) interactions between community wellbeing and community leadership.