This is a copy of the letter I sent in response to an article in todays
Guardian on the 'state of geography' discussing the recent IBG conference.
I would be interested in the lists views on this persistent issue.
Kath Browne
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From: BROWNE, Katherine
To: 'Guardian'; 'Guardian 2'
Subject: Re: 'Lost in scared space' - A response
Date: 11 January 2000 18:33
Dear Editor
In a recent article 'Lost in sacred space' (Guardian Higher Education
11/1/00 5H) Paul Brown contradicts himself. Mr. Brown picks on three papers
presented at the IBG conference in Sussex describing them as 'abstract',
when in fact these were grounded in empirical research. Interestingly the
paper Mr. Brown celebrates as trying to "pull geographers into the real
world" discusses the abstract concept of the discipline of geography. He
goes on to note that the RGS/IBG is about to produce a benchmark paper on
standards and this will emphasis the need to "tell the world what shapes
social and physical environments". Following his comments, I imagine Mr.
Brown would advocate an analysis of these environments which detailed male,
heterosexual, (white, middle class) environments. Unfortunately for Mr.
Brown these are not the only environments and 'real worlds' which exist. In
fact the social world in which we live is produced through numerous forms of
power relations, including those which serve to deny and silence women's
voices and the voices of those who pursue alternative sexual practices. I am
disappointed that there is a constant berating of the present situation in
geography as it strives to become more inclusive. I believe that Mr. Brown
should recognise this instead of only speaking to two male geographers and
rendering the women authors of the papers he cites invisible.
Yours
Kath Browne
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