Abstract

Previous literature has noted a diverse array of social and spatial effects spurred by increased Airbnb presence in urban neighborhoods. This research investigates how Airbnb may affect perceptions of neighborhood identity and understandings of authenticity across hosts, tourists, and residents in Wicker Park, Chicago. Lefebvre’s social production of space theory, Baudrillard’s ideas of simulacra and hyperreality, and Castells’s theory of the space of flows provide a framework for this study—helping to illuminate spaces’ relationships with power and capitalism. Through a mixed-method analysis of 172 Airbnb listings, 516 reviews, and seven interviews with neighborhood residents, various themes arise—including contradictions in neighborhood identity perceptions, commodification as a tool for authenticity, varied opinions on Airbnb presence, and tourism’s connection to gentrification. Findings reveal that tourists and residents assert more agency than previously portrayed, Airbnb hosts’ role in the capitalist system is nuanced, and that the social production of space is messier than expected. This work contributes to a larger movement, which works to protect the livelihood of urban residents and champion their experiences—providing a basis for protective housing and zoning policies.

Advisor

Fitz Gibbon, Heather

Department

Sociology and Anthropology

Keywords

Urban Tourism Studies, Airbnb, Social Production of Space, Neighborhood Identity, Authenticity

Publication Date

2026

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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© Copyright 2026 Grace A. Dunlay