Bio: (1912–1990) German-British sociologist. Ruth Glass studied at the London School of Economics, and later was the founder and Director of the Centre for Urban Research at the University of London.

Glass was an influential urban sociologist best known for her pioneering work on cities, housing, and social change.  Her experiences as a refugee, as she fled Germany to escape Nazism, shaped her sensitivity to issues of inequality, displacement, and the lived realities of urban populations.

Glass made her most lasting contribution through her study of urban transformation, particularly in London. She is widely credited with coining the term “gentrification” in the 1960s to describe the process by which working-class neighborhoods are gradually taken over by more affluent residents. In her observations of districts such as Islington, she noted how rising property values and redevelopment led to the displacement of long-standing communities. 

Throughout her career, Glass emphasized the importance of empirical research and careful observation. She conducted detailed studies of housing conditions, migration, and demographic shifts, often highlighting the gap between official policy and the everyday experiences of ordinary people. Her work challenged policymakers to consider the social consequences of urban planning decisions, particularly for vulnerable populations.

Main works

Watling: A Social Survey (1939);

Middlesbrough: The Social Background of a Plan (1947);

“Urban Sociology in Great Britain”, in Current Sociology (1955);

Newcomers: The West Indians in London (1960)

London's housing needs: statement of evidence to the Committee on Housing in Greater London (1965).