To what extent are the number of chicken shops linked to deprivation rates in two contrasting areas of Haringey?

This research was a part of my A Level Geography course. I researched the correlation between deprivation and the number of chicken shops. I investigated three hypotheses exploring the link between deprivation and chicken shops, deprivation and ethnicity, and deprivation and environmental degradation. I was inspired to do this research after Priti Patel decided to print the stories of knife crime victims within chicken boxes in chicken shops. 

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Excerpt

(pg. 9-10)

Due to the idea that deprivation is inherently linked to areas populated with a high level of ethnic minorities, many have assumed that chicken shops will also link to ethnicity and deprivation. This was seen in 2019 when the home office used launched the #knifefree campaign, where stories from stab victims were put into the insides of black boxes to deter knife-related crime. When speaking to the Guardian MP for Tottenham David Lammy said ‘... Now his (Boris Johnson’s) government is pushing the stereotype that black people love fried chicken. This ridiculous stunt is either explicitly racist or at best, unfathomably stupid.’ He also tweeted in response to the home office ‘Is this some kind of joke?! Why have you chosen chicken shops? What’s next, #KnifeFree watermelons?’.

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It is clear that the topic of chicken shops is highly nuanced. Prior research can be seen in work conducted by the Institute of Race relations, where they discussed the idea of chicken shops forming a part of the urban landscape in London, creating spaces which symbolise community for young people. Within this research, journalist Bridget Minamore discusses the idea that chicken shops have become a refuge for young people who are often excluded from other public spaces due to the perception of the ‘urban youth’. This shows that the issues associated around chicken shops are not only geographical, they are also centred around urban policy and urban governance.