GEOG 5270 - Geographies of Social Justice

This class provides a geographic analysis of social relations, social identities, and social inequalities. The course examines the geographies of social justice from the perspective of distinct identity groups (including race, gender, class, sexuality, ability, and nationality). We discuss the way that place plays a role in constructing and giving meaning to these identity groups. We explore the role of social justice as it relates to various geographic themes, particularly focusing on: the constitution of public and private space; housing, homelessness, and the meaning of home; memorialization; urban structure and design; gentrification; the use of public space; mobility; geographies of fear; and resistance.

Requisites:
Credit Hours: 4
Repeat/Retake Information: May not be retaken.
Lecture/Lab Hours: 4.0 lecture
Grades: Eligible Grades: A-F,WP,WF,WN,FN,AU,I
Learning Outcomes:

Students will be able to describe how geographers approach topics of race, class, gender, and sexuality, both historically and currently.
Students will be able to connect the epistemological paradigms of post-positivism, critical theory, and constructivism to the history of geographic thought on race, class, gender, and sexuality.
Students will be able to explain the ways that geographic phenomena both constitute and reflect social identities, social relations, and social inequalities.
Students will be able to define geographic justice and explain its relationship to social justice.
Students will be able to reflect on the ways that their identity is co-constituted with their experience of place, and how these in turn affect their belief systems, conduct, and thinking.
Students will be able to reflect on how their identity impacts their role as a researcher and the process and results of their research.
Students will be able to explain how ethical issues are geographic in nature.
Students will be able to identify geographic phenomena that affect issues of ethics and justice and discuss connections between these phenomena.
Students will be able to describe how different experiences of place by people with different identities may produce conflicting ethical perspectives.
Students will be able to describe how geographic analysis can support social justice and identify specific examples of this across a broad array of geographic subdisciplines.
Students will be able to identify examples of geographic injustice in their local communities, and plan and execute interventions to address these issues.
Students will be able to apply the concept of geographic justice to a broad array of topics within the field of geography.