Introduction: global perspectives on gender–water geographies

Abstract

This introduction summarizes the work featured in the themed section of Gender, Place and Culture titled ‘Global geographies of gender and water’. It brings into dialogue scholars investigating a variety of gender–water relationships at different scales, including: poisoned waterscapes; fishing practices; and the implications of neoliberal water policies. The authors featured purposefully engage with the multi-faceted ways in which experiences, discourses and policies of water are gendered, and how gender is created through processes of access, use and control of water resources. In bringing these articles together, we have consciously aimed to support inclusive, feminist collaborative work and to prioritize diversity.

Esta introducción resume el trabajo presentado en la sección temática de Gender, Place and Culture titulada “Geografías globales de género y agua.” Reúne a académicos investigando una variedad de relaciones género-agua a diferentes escalas, incluyendo: paisajes de agua contaminados; prácticas de pesca; y las implicancias de las políticas neoliberales de agua. Los autores presentados se ocupan expresamente de las multifacéticas formas en que las experiencias, discursos y políticas de agua están generizadas, y de cómo el género es creado a través de procesos de acceso, uso y control de los recursos de agua. Reuniendo estos artículos hemos apuntado concientemente a apoyar el trabajo inclusivo, feminista y colaborativo, y a priorizar la diversidad.

Keywords:

• gender
• water
• neoliberalism
• nature-society
• modernity

Keywords:

• género
• agua
• neoliberalismo
• naturaleza-sociedad
• modernidad

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all those involved in presentation and discussion at the AAG 2007 sessions ‘Global perspectives on gender–water geographies’, which launched this special issue. Thanks to the editors of GPC and the anonymous reviewers. Sarah and Kathleen would like to especially thank Jim Wescoat for his support of women doing feminist research on water.