Geography of Gender: Basic Understanding

Geography of Gender : Basic Understanding

1. GEOGRAPHY GEOGRAPHY
OF GENDEROF GENDER

2. GEOGRAPHYGEOGRAPHY
•Study of the earth and its Study of the earth and its
features, inhabitants and features, inhabitants and
phenomenaphenomena
•““To describe or write about To describe or write about
the Earth" the Earth"

3. GEOGRAPHYGEOGRAPHY
•seeks to understand the world and all of its human and natural seeks to understand the world and all of its human and natural
complexitiescomplexities
•not merely where objects are, but how they have changed and not merely where objects are, but how they have changed and
come to be come to be
•““The bridge between the human and physical sciences“The bridge between the human and physical sciences“
•Human GeographyHuman Geography
•Physical Geography Physical Geography

4. FEMINIST GEOGRAPHYFEMINIST GEOGRAPHY
•An approach in human An approach in human
geography geography
•Applies the theories, Applies the theories,
methods and critiques methods and critiques
of of feminism feminism to the to the
study of the human study of the human
environment, society environment, society
and geographical space and geographical space

5. FEMINIST GEOGRAPHYFEMINIST GEOGRAPHY
STRANDS TO FEMINIST GEOGRAPHYSTRANDS TO FEMINIST GEOGRAPHY
•Geographic differences in gender relations Geographic differences in gender relations
and gender equality and gender equality
•The geography of women The geography of women
•spatial constraints, welfare geography spatial constraints, welfare geography
•The construction of gender identity through The construction of gender identity through
the use & nature of spaces & places the use & nature of spaces & places
•Geographies of sexualityGeographies of sexuality

6. FEMINIST GEOGRAPHY FEMINIST GEOGRAPHY
(EXAMPLES)(EXAMPLES)
urban planning has a gender dimension with the expectation that men travel to
a distant location for employment while women are involved with child care,
basic shopping, and domestic functions in a suburban location.

7. FEMINIST GEOGRAPHY FEMINIST GEOGRAPHY (EXAMPLES)(EXAMPLES)
gender differences in terms of personal access, mobility and safety,
especially in respect to the design and use of urban space
and open places such as public parks and footpaths

8. FEMINIST GEOGRAPHY FEMINIST GEOGRAPHY (EXAMPLES)(EXAMPLES)
worldwide
migration of
women from the
Third World to
the First World to
perform domestic
labor and sex
work

9. KEY ISSUESKEY ISSUES
•Gender relations and geographies are mutually constructed Gender relations and geographies are mutually constructed
and transformed and transformed
•Spaces affect gender and gender affects spacesSpaces affect gender and gender affects spaces
•Assumptions about gender have influenced the study of Assumptions about gender have influenced the study of
geography and the position of women in the disciplinegeography and the position of women in the discipline
•Conceptions of the body are central to understanding gender Conceptions of the body are central to understanding gender
and space relationsand space relations

10. KEY ISSUESKEY ISSUES
•Gender influences the ways in which people understand, Gender influences the ways in which people understand,
experience and use spaces like the home, the workplace and experience and use spaces like the home, the workplace and
the street the street
•Although geographic research on gender has “traditionally” Although geographic research on gender has “traditionally”
focused on the experiences and needs of women, geographers focused on the experiences and needs of women, geographers
are increasingly interested in gaining a greater understanding are increasingly interested in gaining a greater understanding
of men and masculinitiesof men and masculinities

11. HISTORY OF HISTORY OF
GENDER GENDER
11
stst
Phase – 1970s Phase – 1970s
22
ndnd
Phase – 1980s Phase – 1980s
33
rdrd
Phase – Current Phase – Current
Gender and Geography

12. 11
STST
PHASE – 1970S PHASE – 1970S
•Sexist bias in the content, methods and purpose of Sexist bias in the content, methods and purpose of
geographical research meant that only “half of the human” geographical research meant that only “half of the human”
were being included in geographywere being included in geography
•Geographical research reflected white, Geographical research reflected white,
able-bodied, male, middle class able-bodied, male, middle class
values and issues as the normvalues and issues as the norm

13. 11
STST
PHASE – 1970S PHASE – 1970S
•Drawn from the Liberal Feminist MovementDrawn from the Liberal Feminist Movement
•There should be equality between men and women in There should be equality between men and women in
both public and private spacesboth public and private spaces
•Include women in geography and geographical Include women in geography and geographical
researchresearch
•Resulted in a growth in Resulted in a growth in
research into women’s research into women’s
lives particularly in the lives particularly in the
spaces of the home, spaces of the home,
the workplace and the workplace and
the streetthe street

14. 22
NDND
PHASE – 1980S PHASE – 1980S
•Move from simply placing women in geography to Move from simply placing women in geography to
examining the mechanisms that created the wide range of examining the mechanisms that created the wide range of
socio-material inequalities between men and womensocio-material inequalities between men and women
•particularly in the context of the workplace and the homeparticularly in the context of the workplace and the home

15. 22
NDND
PHASE – 1980S PHASE – 1980S
•Recognition that spaces were Recognition that spaces were genderedgendered
•Space was previously viewed as Space was previously viewed as
“neutral”“neutral”
•Space can be seen to reflect Space can be seen to reflect
gendered and heterosexual values gendered and heterosexual values
and norms and norms
•Many spaces can be argued as Many spaces can be argued as
hetero-patriarchal spaceshetero-patriarchal spaces

16. 22
NDND
PHASE – 1980S PHASE – 1980S
•Influenced by radical Socialist/Marxist trendsInfluenced by radical Socialist/Marxist trends
•Links are made between the home as a site of reproduction and Links are made between the home as a site of reproduction and
the workplace as a space of productionthe workplace as a space of production
Thereby linking patriarchy and Thereby linking patriarchy and
capitalismcapitalism

17. 33
RDRD
AND CURRENT PHASE AND CURRENT PHASE
•Recognition that even when increasing numbers of women are Recognition that even when increasing numbers of women are
achieving economic equality with menachieving economic equality with men
»broader social and
cultural beliefs and
practices still
influence the
opportunities and
expectations of
women

18. 33
RDRD
AND CURRENT PHASE AND CURRENT PHASE
•Geographers in the contemporary era have begun Geographers in the contemporary era have begun
to unsettle the binary construction “male”/“female”to unsettle the binary construction “male”/“female”
•They have become increasingly interested They have become increasingly interested
in the differences that exist amongst and in the differences that exist amongst and
between men & womenbetween men & women
•Influenced by Post-Structural Feminists who seek to Influenced by Post-Structural Feminists who seek to
disrupt what is taken for granteddisrupt what is taken for granted

19. THEORETICAL THEORETICAL
APPROACHESAPPROACHES
The Natural and the SocialThe Natural and the Social
The Mind/Body DualismThe Mind/Body Dualism
Bodily CompartmentBodily Compartment
Gender and Geography

20. THE NATURAL AND THE SOCIALTHE NATURAL AND THE SOCIAL
Notions that women’s bodies are both different and inferior to Notions that women’s bodies are both different and inferior to
men’s:men’s:
•Women’s
menstruation was
read as a sign of their
inherent lack of
control over their
bodies
•Women leaked, while
men were self-
contained

21. THE NATURAL AND THE SOCIALTHE NATURAL AND THE SOCIAL
Notions that women’s bodies are both different and inferior to Notions that women’s bodies are both different and inferior to
men’s:men’s:
•Women’s role in
reproduction was
understood to mean that
they were “naturally”
more nurturing and more
closely linked to “Mother
Earth” than men

22. THE NATURAL AND THE SOCIALTHE NATURAL AND THE SOCIAL
Association between women and nature:Association between women and nature:
•Just as nature is wild and potentially uncontrollable, women were Just as nature is wild and potentially uncontrollable, women were
less able to control their emotions and passions than menless able to control their emotions and passions than men
•Women’s unstable bodies were considered to be a threat to their Women’s unstable bodies were considered to be a threat to their
mindsminds
Women’s bodies were used to justify what was regarded as Women’s bodies were used to justify what was regarded as
“natural inequality” between the sexes“natural inequality” between the sexes

23. THE NATURAL AND THE SOCIALTHE NATURAL AND THE SOCIAL
ESSENTIALISTSESSENTIALISTS
•Sexual differences are Sexual differences are
determined by biologydetermined by biology
•Bodies have particular stable, Bodies have particular stable,
fixed properties or “essences”fixed properties or “essences”
SOCIAL SOCIAL
CONSTRUCTIONISTSCONSTRUCTIONISTS
•There is no “natural” bodyThere is no “natural” body
•The body is always “culturally The body is always “culturally
mapped”mapped”
•““Essence” is actually socially Essence” is actually socially
constructed differenceconstructed difference

24. THE NATURAL AND THE SOCIALTHE NATURAL AND THE SOCIAL
SOCIAL CONSTRUCTINISTSSOCIAL CONSTRUCTINISTS
•What is understood by “man” and “woman” varies What is understood by “man” and “woman” varies
historically and in different cultural contextshistorically and in different cultural contexts
•The social meanings ascribed to men and women (or The social meanings ascribed to men and women (or
gender) is socially constructed in a hierarchical waygender) is socially constructed in a hierarchical way

25. THE MIND/BODY DUALISMTHE MIND/BODY DUALISM
MINDMIND
•Only the mind had the Only the mind had the
power of intelligence, power of intelligence,
spirituality and spirituality and
therefore selfhoodtherefore selfhood
•Associated with Associated with
positive terms such as positive terms such as
rationality, rationality,
consciousness, reason consciousness, reason
and masculinityand masculinity
BODYBODY
•The corporeal body The corporeal body
was nothing but a was nothing but a
machinemachine
•Associated with Associated with
negative terms such as negative terms such as
emotionality, nature, emotionality, nature,
irrationality and irrationality and
femininityfemininity

26. THE MIND/BODY DUALISMTHE MIND/BODY DUALISM
MANMAN
•Transcend their Transcend their
embodiment by embodiment by
regarding the body regarding the body
as merely the as merely the
container of their container of their
consciousnessconsciousness
•Able to separate Able to separate
himself from his himself from his
emotions and emotions and
experiencesexperiences
WOMANWOMAN
•More closely tied to, and ruled More closely tied to, and ruled
by, their bodies by, their bodies due to natural due to natural
cycles of menstruation, cycles of menstruation,
pregnancy & childbirthpregnancy & childbirth
•Presumed to be a “victim of the Presumed to be a “victim of the
vagaries of her emotions, a vagaries of her emotions, a
creature who cannot think creature who cannot think
straight as a consequence”straight as a consequence”

27. THE MIND/BODY DUALISMTHE MIND/BODY DUALISM
Applied to Geography:Applied to Geography:
•Men have tended to marginalize women as producers of Men have tended to marginalize women as producers of
geographical knowledge and what are considered women’s geographical knowledge and what are considered women’s
issues as topic of study issues as topic of study
•Until the mid-late 1990’s topics such as embodiment, emotion Until the mid-late 1990’s topics such as embodiment, emotion
& sexuality were regarded as inappropriate& sexuality were regarded as inappropriate

28. BODILY COMPORTMENTBODILY COMPORTMENT
““Throwing Like a Girl”Throwing Like a Girl”
•BOYSBOYS use their whole bodies to throw, use their whole bodies to throw,
leaning back, twisting and reaching leaning back, twisting and reaching
forwardforward
•GIRLSGIRLS tend to be relatively stiff and tend to be relatively stiff and
immobile, only using their arms to immobile, only using their arms to
produce a throwing actionproduce a throwing action

29. BODILY COMPORTMENTBODILY COMPORTMENT
•Women are alienated from their bodies and as a result, Women are alienated from their bodies and as a result,
occupy and use space in an inhibited way compared with menoccupy and use space in an inhibited way compared with men
•Women demonstrate restricted body movements and Women demonstrate restricted body movements and
inhibited comportment in some physical activitiesinhibited comportment in some physical activities

30. BODILY COMPORTMENTBODILY COMPORTMENT
•Women are inhibited and do not put their bodies into the task Women are inhibited and do not put their bodies into the task
with the same ease as menwith the same ease as men

31. BODILY COMPORTMENTBODILY COMPORTMENT
•Women also fear getting hurtWomen also fear getting hurt
•Their bodies tend to become Their bodies tend to become
the object of the male gazethe object of the male gaze
•It has become acceptable for It has become acceptable for
men to look at, comment on men to look at, comment on
or touch women’s bodies in or touch women’s bodies in
public spacepublic space
•As a result women are fearful As a result women are fearful
that their body space may be that their body space may be
invadedinvaded

32. BODILY COMPORTMENTBODILY COMPORTMENT
•““To be an adult male is To be an adult male is
distinctly to occupy space, to distinctly to occupy space, to
have a physical presence in have a physical presence in
the world”the world”

33. GENDER AND GENDER AND
SPACE RELATIONS SPACE RELATIONS
IN CONTEXTIN CONTEXT
Domestic SpaceDomestic Space
WorkplaceWorkplace
StreetsStreets
Gender and Geography

34. DOMESTIC SPACESDOMESTIC SPACES
•Women were attributed with the sort of emotional qualities Women were attributed with the sort of emotional qualities
necessary to nurture families and run the housenecessary to nurture families and run the house
•Whereas men were seen as fiery, active, aggressive, and so more Whereas men were seen as fiery, active, aggressive, and so more
suited the public world of work.suited the public world of work.

35. DOMESTIC SPACESDOMESTIC SPACES
•Early 19Early 19
thth
C – residential areas developed along road and C – residential areas developed along road and
railway lines allowing men to travel into the city to the railway lines allowing men to travel into the city to the
workplace, leaving women and children in residential suburbsworkplace, leaving women and children in residential suburbs

36. DOMESTIC SPACESDOMESTIC SPACES
•Early 19Early 19
thth
C – residential areas developed along road and C – residential areas developed along road and
railway lines allowing men to travel into the city to the railway lines allowing men to travel into the city to the
workplace, leaving women and children in residential suburbsworkplace, leaving women and children in residential suburbs
•After WW II – Planners used the After WW II – Planners used the pro-natalistpro-natalist approach in approach in
housing designhousing design
•To address falling birth rates and improve family housingTo address falling birth rates and improve family housing
•To persuade more women to have children and remove temptations To persuade more women to have children and remove temptations
for them to work outside the homefor them to work outside the home

37. DOMESTIC SPACESDOMESTIC SPACES
•With the rising standards of housing came the rising standards With the rising standards of housing came the rising standards
of houseworkof housework
•Washing machines and vacuum cleaners became commonplaceWashing machines and vacuum cleaners became commonplace
•Women’s magazines became preoccupied with cleaning products Women’s magazines became preoccupied with cleaning products
(e.g., VIM)(e.g., VIM)
•Domestic ideology: housework is not just a set of chores but a Domestic ideology: housework is not just a set of chores but a
moral undertakingmoral undertaking
•A dirty home was equated with slovenliness, cleanliness was A dirty home was equated with slovenliness, cleanliness was
equated with goodnessequated with goodness

38. DOMESTIC SPACESDOMESTIC SPACES
•Late 20Late 20
thth
C – Women in paid employment continue to do the C – Women in paid employment continue to do the
lion’s share of domestic work & childcarelion’s share of domestic work & childcare
•Women juggled these dual roles and confronted spatial constraintsWomen juggled these dual roles and confronted spatial constraints

39. GENDER AND THE WORKPLACEGENDER AND THE WORKPLACE
•Are women unsuited to the Are women unsuited to the
skilled and relatively well-skilled and relatively well-
paid work?paid work?
•Women had weaker spinesWomen had weaker spines
•Women were too soft and afraid Women were too soft and afraid
of getting hurtof getting hurt
•Women were too irrational for Women were too irrational for
an occupation that requires an occupation that requires
logical & problem solvinglogical & problem solving
•Women had an innate aversion Women had an innate aversion
to machineryto machinery

40. GENDER AND THE WORKPLACEGENDER AND THE WORKPLACE
•These justifications rested on assumptions that it was logical These justifications rested on assumptions that it was logical
and proper for the male head of the family to be the and proper for the male head of the family to be the
breadwinner and so well-paid jobs should be the preserve of breadwinner and so well-paid jobs should be the preserve of
menmen
•That women would be coarsened by working alongside men That women would be coarsened by working alongside men
because they would be subject to swearing and the general because they would be subject to swearing and the general
sexist abuse and so would lose their femininitysexist abuse and so would lose their femininity

41. GENDER AND THE WORKPLACEGENDER AND THE WORKPLACE
•In a male-dominated and aggressive work environment, In a male-dominated and aggressive work environment,
women need to appropriate masculine styles of behavior to be women need to appropriate masculine styles of behavior to be
accepted in this spaceaccepted in this space
•Yet they are constantly reminded of their sex by negative Yet they are constantly reminded of their sex by negative
comments from male colleaguescomments from male colleagues

42. STREETS OF FEARSTREETS OF FEAR
•Street violence: women are at most riskStreet violence: women are at most risk
•Women are most fearful of sexual violence or assault by strangersWomen are most fearful of sexual violence or assault by strangers
– Most women
encounter more
minor forms of
harassment
(verbal abuse,
wolf whistling,
flashing)

43. STREETS OF FEARSTREETS OF FEAR
In cases where women In cases where women
have been attacked in have been attacked in
public space at night, the public space at night, the
police and media have police and media have
sometimes implied that sometimes implied that
they are to a certain they are to a certain
degree responsible for degree responsible for
their own fate and have their own fate and have
warned other women to warned other women to
avoid putting themselves avoid putting themselves
in similar situations of in similar situations of
vulnerabilityvulnerability