Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
Synopsis Current debates about the shape and form of postmodern cities and urban spaces are redefining the ways in which cities are conceived of as gendered. This subject examines the feminist geographical literature which has arisen to attempt to understand the ways in which modern city spaces have developed as gendered spaces. This literature largely relies upon the insights of socialist feminism concerning the separation of the spheres of production and reproduction and public and private space in the city. Suburban development and housing structure will form the empirical focus of this section of the subject. Recent feminist empirical studies of urban restructuring that have begun to challenge many of the dichotomised conceptions of gendered cities will then be examined. Finally the subject turns to the variety of postmodern conceptions of the city which have, to varying degrees, borrowed from feminist postmodernist theory. How is the city seen as gendered in these debates? Answers to this question will be explored via case studies of new housing estates, lesbian space, retail restructuring and community art projects.
Assessment Two exercises (2000 words each): 40% + Essay (5000 words): 60%