Geography and gender studies : the situation in Brazil and Argentina

Abstract

Feminist geography in Latin America has developed primarily in Brazil and Argentina. We first situate research in relation to feminist movements in society which were shaped by working class activism and affected by local and global political and economic currents. We then examine the implications of recent institutionalized feminisms for academia. In both countries, we identify the inclusion of gender perspectives in geography as modest and relatively recent reflecting the discipline’s orientations to positivist and Marxist perspectives. Such feminist work as exists is more empirical than theoretical. In Brazil, early work centered in Sao Paulo and emphasized aspects of women’s productive work with some research on health issues. In Argentina it has been more dispersed institutionally and topically, with attention to urban space-time themes, environment, migration, and political participation. Special journal issues have been published and meeting sessions organized, but the field remains to become institutionalized in curricula and professional organizations. Yet we conclude the field is making slow but sustained progress.