I believe the social structure theory that best applies to the 1996 movie “Set it off” is the “Social disorganization theory” created by Clifford Shaw in 1929. This theory states that areas with “high unemployment, population fluctuation or material decay” (soztheo) can prevent organization and lead to higher crime rates. The theory believes that as crime is normalized in an area it becomes entrenched and becomes normalized as it passes from person to person and generation to generation. This theory sections areas of a city off into 5 sections, from 1 to 5. Section one is where many businesses and industrial zones are and is regarded as the inner city. Zone two is the traveling zone from business to residences, zone 3 is the residence’s for workers, zone 4 is residences for the middle class, and zone 5 is the suburbs. This theory also concluded that the ethnic majority does not affect the crime rate and that

factors such as “higher delinquency and truancy rates, overpopulation, high number of families living on state support, and unfavorable social structure, due to a lack of leisure activities, but also to high population mobility” (soztheo) are the primary cause of high crime. Another factor explored in this theory is that of “space attracts criminals” (soztheo). This states that crime areas are less than ideal housing, because of the cheaper cost. These normally run down or smaller houses and apartments attract many people of low income creating a low income community. “in these neighborhoods, under the pressure of socially disintegrating forces, social ties were dissolved and therefore crime was higher” (soztheo)

I believe this theory represents the social structure of “Set it off” 1996, because of the many ill natured interactions between many of the main cast and acorn project residents as well as the rundown state of the area caused by government neglect. My first example is that of Stoney and the car salesman. This situation shows someone taking advantage of someone else in their community, as well as a sister who has little support from the system and is forced to use drastic measures to provide for her family. These would fall under the category of delinquency and poverty in an area, this situation is a prime example of something that could cause distrust in a community and break down and disorganized a social structure, all stemming from a lack of resources. The second example of why social disorganization theory fits this film is the interaction between Steivie and Lorenez. Lorenz’s apartment is shown to be quite run down and in close proximity to others, which is a clear cut example of what this theory believes to cause higher crime rates in areas. The large amount of crime in the area shown in the movie, from the groups of bank robbers, to the sleazy car salesman taking advantage of Stoney, as well as the rundown nature of the apartments and there close proximity makes this movies setting fit the description of Social Disorganization theory almost perfectly.