This paper examines how urban and rural communities differ in the formality of their social norms and the strictness with which those norms are enforced. It argues that greater demographic diversity in cities — driven by immigration and social mobility — fosters tolerance for varied lifestyles, while rural communities, with fewer inter-group interactions, maintain narrower and more tightly policed informal codes. The paper also notes a counterintuitive dynamic: urban areas face stricter legal and procedural regulation out of logistical necessity, while rural residents may follow highly individualistic codes rooted in family or ethnic tradition. Together, these forces produce distinctly different normative environments in urban and rural settings.
Urban and rural communities differ profoundly in the demographic composition of their populations and, as a consequence, in their informal social norms. The greater influx of immigrants and socially mobile labor communities often creates greater cultural diversity in urban settings. This diversity, in turn, fosters greater tolerance for different modes of life.
People who are young, gay, from other countries, or pursuing artistic careers are more likely to live in cities, and are often more willing to transgress common social norms about what constitutes an acceptable lifestyle than people living in more rural areas. The density and variety of urban populations create an environment in which non-conformity is less conspicuous and therefore less subject to informal sanction.
Even individuals who limit themselves to dwelling in particular ethnic enclaves — such as "Little Italy" at the beginning of the twentieth century — may experience greater heterogeneity of living styles than they did when they lived in rural towns in their home country. To use that example: a Florentine and a Sicilian who may never have conversed, and who may even have been in conflict with one another in Italy, might come to eat one another's food, live on the same street, and observe similar festivals in America. What it means to be "Italian" is thus re-created in a pluralistic urban setting, even within what America considers a single ethnic group.
"Limited interaction slows rural normative evolution"
"Urban legal rules contrast with rural informal policing"
Always verify citation format against your institution’s current style guide requirements.