A Companion to Social Geography

This volume traces the complexity of social geography in both its historical and present contexts, whilst challenging readers to reflect critically on the tensions that run through social geographic thought.

• Organized to provide a new set of conceptual lenses through which social geographies can be discussed
• Presents an original intervention into the debates about social geography
• Highlights the importance of social geography within the broader field of geography

Vincent J. Del Casino Jr. is Professor and Chair of Geography at California State University, Long Beach. He has published extensively on social geography, the geographies of health, geographic methodologies, critical cartography, and representational politics. His recent books include Social Geography: A Critical Introduction (Wiley-Blackwell, 2009) and Mapping Tourism (2003).

Mary E. Thomas is Assistant Professor of Geography and Women's Studies at Ohio State University. Her research examines racial segregation among US youth populations and the perpetuation of racism, sexism, and white hegemony in the practices of young women. Her book on teen girls, racial segregation, and urban education in Los Angeles, California is forthcoming.
 
Paul Cloke is Professor of Human Geography at the University of Exeter. He has published widely on the social and cultural geographies of rural areas, and is Founder Editor of the Journal of Rural Studies. His recent books include Swept Up Lives? Re-envisioning the Homeless City (with Jon May and Sarah Johnsen, Wiley-Blackwell, 2010) and Globalizing Responsibility: The Political Rationalities of Ethical Consumption (with Clive Barnett, Nick Clarke, and Alice Malpass, Wiley-Blackwell, 2011).

Ruth Panelli is former Reader in Human Geography at University College London and is now participating in community work and research in rural New Zealand. She has published writings on responses to individual and collective experiences of difference and her books include Social Geographies: From Difference to Action (2004) and Global Perspectives on Rural Childhood and Youth (ed. with Samantha Punch and Elsbeth Robson, 2007).

List of Illustrations.

List of Contributors.

1 Introduction (Vincent J. Del Casino Jr., Mary E. Thomas, Paul Cloke, and Ruth Panelli).

Part I Ontological Tensions in/of Society and Space.

Introduction (Paul Cloke).

2 Difference (Sarah de Leeuw, Audrey Kobayashi, and Emilie Cameron).

3 Identifi cation (Katharine McKinnon).

4 Social Natures (Katharine Meehan and Jennifer L. Rice).

5 Economie$ (Geoff Mann).

6 Community (Marcia England).

7 Belonging (Caroline Nagel).

Part II Thinking and Doing Social Geographies.

Introduction (Vincent J. Del Casino Jr.).

8 Knowing/Doing (Richard Howitt).

9 Framing the Field (Joanne Sharp and Lorraine Dowler).

10 On the Ground (Bettina van Hoven and Louise Meijering).

11 Leaving the Field (Carolyn Gallaher).

12 The Worldly Work of Writing Social Geography (Lieba Faier).

13 Participatory Praxis and Social Justice (Mrs C Kinpaisby-Hill).

14 Using Social Geography (Sarah Johnsen).

Part III Matters and Meaning.

Introduction (Mary E. Thomas).

15 Molecular Life (Gail Davies).

16 Psychic Life (Hester Parr and Joyce Davidson).

17 Sexual Life (Gavin Brown, Kath Browne, and Jason Lim).

18 Emotional Life (Deborah Thien).

19 Affective Life (Keith Woodward).

20 Embodied Life (Isabel Dyck).

21 Discursive Life (Chris Philo).

22 Spiritual Life (Julian Holloway).

23 Virtual Life (Mike Crang).

Part IV Power and Politics.

Introduction (Ruth Panelli).

24 Geopolitics (Nancy Hiemstra and Alison Mountz).

25 The Geographies of Marginalization (Dan Trudeau and Chris McMorran).

26 Care and Caring (David Conradson).

27 The Challenges of and from Indigenous Geographies (Brad Coombes, Nicole Gombay, Jay T. Johnson, and Wendy S. Shaw).

28 Transnational Geographies and Human Rights (Amy Ross).

29 Resistance(s) and Collective Social Action (Paul Chatterton and Nik Heynen).

Index.