Gender analysis and geography: reflections on a recent book

Abstract

The increasing importance of the feminist movement has had considerable repercussions in geographical circles, especially in English-speaking countries. The appearance of a book in England entitled Geography and Gender: un introduction to feminist geography does not, therefore, come as a surprise. This book has the unquestionable merit of being the fust one published on the subject, and should be considered an indispensable introductory manual on the present state of affairs in feminist geography. In the first place, it provides an introduction to feminist analysis and offers insights on this perspective in relation to various geographical approaches. A feminist analysis of four traditionally geographical topics follows. The topics are: urban structure, industrial location, access to facilities and underdevelopment. Finally, the status of women in academic geography in English speaking countries is examined. There is abundant evidence throughout the book that geography can make a substantial contribution to femenist debate. Bearing in mind that Gender inequality and power relationships are unevenly distributed in spatial terms, then the study of spatial variations in general mechanisms may greatly clarify the nature and origin of these mechanisms.