Setha M. Low is an American anthropologist and professor known for her influential work on the social production and social construction of space, urban public culture, and the privatization of public life. A leading figure in urban anthropology, she has combined ethnographic research with critical theory to analyze how built environments shape, and are shaped by, power, inequality, and cultural identity.
Low’s research has been pivotal in understanding the intersections between urban design, security, and social exclusion. Her concept of the “fortress city” and her analyses of gated communities have contributed significantly to debates in urban sociology, cultural studies, and critical criminology. By exploring how spatial arrangements embody and reproduce social hierarchies, Low has bridged anthropology, sociology, and urban planning.
