LEC.114 Social geography

Question 1

Essentialist approach to identity?

Answer 1

• We each inhabit a particular, fixed identity which can be defined and known
• Identities can be made up of multiple strands e.g., ‘disabled man’ but an individuals identity is assumed to remain relatively fixed over time

Question 2

Gender essentialism?

Answer 2

• Gender bianry of two genders - man and woman
• Particularly divisive in sports

Question 3

Example of gender essentialism (+racism)?

Answer 3

Female athletes of colour who beat white female athletes are more likely to be accused of transgenderism

Question 4

What does an essentialist approach to identity assume?

Answer 4

Presumes that groups of people sharing the same identity will also share characteristics - eugenics, stereotyping, white supremacy, scientific racism

Question 5

What does an essentialist approach to identity lead to?

Answer 5

Presumes that groups of people sharing the same identity will also share characteristics - eugenics, stereotyping, white supremacy, scientific racism

Question 6

Relational/multi-faceted approaches to identity?

Answer 6

Identity is not fixed, can change over time and in different contexts. Political, personal, emotional. Variety of scales. Identity is a product of our intersections with other people/things, but it is also something we pro-actively ‘do’.

Question 7

How can identity be dangerous when its defined and bound?

Answer 7

Can be controlled or limited by others perceptions of our wants, needs, competencies etc. based on imposed identities

Question 8

How can identity categorisation be used by those in power?

Answer 8

Retain power over those who are different

Question 9

How can identity be empowering?

Answer 9

By celebrating and nurturing identities, when organised by those within the identity group

Question 10

Identity and intersectionality?

Answer 10

The way our identities intersect is important for example multiple privileges may make us particularly privileges, whilst multiple marginalised identities may increase our experience of marginalisation.

Question 11

Identity as a performance?

Answer 11

Crafting an identity for a real or imagined audience.
- choosing to ‘fit in’ or ‘stand out’
- could even be fitting in by standing out - social media loves different when done in boundaries of perceived normal or okay
- identity is both expressed and reinforced materially

Question 12

Pre-industrial concepts of identity?

Answer 12

• not an at individual level
• small communities
• work based identity

Question 13

Industrialisation’s impact on identity?

Answer 13

• movement of people
• new people
• mixing of culture
• disability becomes an identity
• age seen in a new way

Question 14

Social constructionism of identity?

Answer 14

• identity is relational, a product of societal norms
• ideas about identity change spatially and temporally

Question 15

Psycho-analytical approach to identity?

Answer 15

• identity reflects a human need to bound things and in doing so create ‘other’
• if we see ourselves as individuals we have a way of conceptualising who we are
• can go hand in hand with social constructionism

Question 16

Neoliberalism and identity?

Answer 16

Lends itself to the idea of the project of self - the increasing of individualisation. Increased idea that we are all individuals and the project of our identity is our own project, leads to increased perception of personal risk and uncertainty.

Question 17

Cultural capital?

Answer 17

• identity curated through individual choice
• identity can be cultivated, purchased, consumed through access to cultural pursuits that carry kudos
• is high social status universally attainable thanks to the proliferation of free sources of cultural credit??

Question 18

Cultural capital vs economic capital

Answer 18

Whilst access to things are now free, cultural capital can be seen as a form of elitism that perpetuates social exclusion of those in poverty. Free does not equal universally accessible

Question 19

Urban space and multiculturalism?

Answer 19

Allows us toe encounter difference. Which leads to understanding and familiarisation. But familiarisation can also breed contempt - the rural/urban dichotomy

Question 20

Is exclusion social or spatial?

Answer 20

Both, simultaneously

Question 21

How did Philo (2000) describe exclusion?

Answer 21

“a situation in which certain sections of society are, or become, separated from much that comprises the normal ‘round’ of living, and working within that society”

Question 22

Why does marginalisation happen?

Answer 22

Because some identities are stigmatised. The ‘less than’ identities are marginalised as they are different to the ‘norma;’ and ‘desired’ identity.

Question 23

Goffman and stigmatisation? (1963)

Answer 23

defined stigma as an “attribute that is deeply discrediting” referring to ‘abnormalities’ such as “tribal stigmas”, “physical deformities”, and “blemishes of character”. Goffman discussed that stigma acts as a marker which can lead society to change their view on an individual “from a whole and usual person to a tainted, discounted one”.

Question 24

Stigmatisation is a way to protect who/what and how?

Answer 24

Protect the interests of the powerful social group by devaluing and ‘othering’ those who are different.

Question 25

How can stigma lead to paternalistic behaviour?

Answer 25

Isn't always about being horrible those who are different, but about trying to protect the different individual.

Question 26

Multi-facets of exclusion?

Answer 26

Material, symbolic, spatial, cultural, representation. Exclusion is intersectional

Question 27

Structural exclusion?

Answer 27

e.g. playgrounds not adapted to children who use wheelchairs/physically disabled. - spacing on the street - cobble pavement

Question 28

Exclusion e.g. prisoners?

Answer 28

- design and nature of prison creates boundaries - separating 'good' from 'bad' - solitary within prisons - many prisoners have suffered marginalisation or stigmatisation since childhood due to race, poverty, disability, mental health or a combination of these. - once released stigmatisation continues due to stigma associated with being an ex-prisoner as well as potentially having the previous stigmatisation that was there before prison.

Question 29

Exclusion e.g. homeless people?

Answer 29

- seen as unproductive/lazy - disaffiliated due to lost contact w friends/family - real or perceived association with other stigmatised groups e.g. mentally unwell, addicts, disabled - seen as polluted through unclean activities or physically being unclean - BUT children who are homeless?? they're worthy of a home. Victorian ideals of 'worthy' and 'unworthy poor'

Question 30

Micro-scale exclusion from city space?

Answer 30

policies, laws, policing measures, things that seek to control the way people behave in the urban landscape. No camping, removal of public toilets, etc. Marginalisation can lead to resistance, the city as a space in which marginalised people come together to claim rights (spatial and social).

Question 31

How is age a biological construct?

Answer 31

Age is embodied, changes over time but is fixed.

Question 32

How is age a social construct?

Answer 32

- interpretation of what certain ages mean - what you're allowed to do at certain ages - expectations of certain ages

Question 33

Binary views of childhood in the UK?

Answer 33

Angels vs devils - Children 'at risk from society and other children' - Children as 'presenting a risk to society and other children'

Question 34

Notion of intersectionality carried through into children's geographies?

Answer 34

socio-economic class, race, gender, etc.

Question 35

UNCRC, 1990

Answer 35

Society has a duty to look after children and young people. Most ratify UN convention ever.

Question 35

How does viewing children as human becomings position them as vulnerable and in need of protection?

Answer 35

- children physically smaller than adults - emotionally and intellectually immature - politically powerless - can't vote - economically powerless - can't get jobs (UK)

Question 36

Children as agentic beings, independent social actors?

Answer 36

- children have agency and power - e.g. Great Thunberg, Malala Yousafzai - school/household level change - baby crying, toddler tantrums

Question 37

Gillick competence and Fraser guidelines?

Answer 37

Right for children to make their own decisions about medical care, provided medical professional is happy they understand the implications of their condition, care, and its effect. Parental consent typically sought, not legally required, reality children often cant decide if it goes against their parents.

Question 38

Medical model of disability ?

Answer 38

- the individual = problem - caused by a physical sensory or intellectual impairment - about mending the 'broken'

Question 39

Social model of disability ?

Answer 39

- structural social problem - policies, barriers, inaccessible environments

Question 40

Feminist approach to disability?

Answer 40

- whilst disability has now become a political issue - activism for recognition of disabled people - overlooks how disabled individuals will be living with pain regardless of policies, the embodiment of disability