WORLD GEOGRAPHY Oct. 17, 2014

Today Unit 4 – Identity Introduction to Unit 5 - Language

Identity Race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality - Defining and examining the concept of identity - Relationships between identity and place - Power relationships between groups

Identity and Place (and scale) “To be human is to live in a world that is filled with significant places.” – Relph

Identity and Place How places affect identity and how identities can be seen in places: - Sense of place: Infusion of places with meaning and feeling, with memories and emotions. - Becomes part of identity - Effect of identity on ways we define and experience place

Sense of place - examples Auschwitz – Nazi concentration camp

Sense of place - examples Dokdo, Takeshima, Lioncourt Rocks

Sense of place - examples Maple Leaf Gardens (an old arena in Toronto)

Ethnicity and Place A constructed identity that is tied to a place - Comes from idea that people are closely bounded, even related, in a place over time - Often result of migration - May change in meaning with migration

Ethnicity and Place - What is a “Swiss American”?

Ethnicity and Place Scale and place have a significant impact on the concept of “ethnic identity” (and identity in general). Example: - Indians and Pakistanis living in the same neighborhoods in the U.S.

Ethnicity and Place New communities in Toronto

Changes in ethnic space Example: Chinatown, Mexicali - Few Chinese residents in Mexicali’s Chinatown - Continued important place for the region’s Chinese population

Changes in ethnic space Example: Chinatown, Mexicali

Changes in ethnic space - Effects on cultural landscape: Mexicali

Changes in ethnic space - Effects on cultural landscape: Mexicali

Changes in Ethnic Space Succession – Washington Heights (New York)

Changes in Ethnic Space Succession – Washington Heights (New York)

Changes in Ethnic Space Succession – Washington Heights (New York) - Population was of predominantly (mainly) Jewish background.  Migrated from Germany during 1930’s and 40’s Nickname: “The Fourth Reich”

Changes in Ethnic Space Succession – Washington Heights (New York) - More recently, large influx of immigrants from the Caribbean area (mainly the Dominican Republic). - New nickname for Washington Heights: El Alto

Changes in Ethnic Space Succession – Washington Heights (New York)

Changes in Ethnic Space Succession – Washington Heights (New York)

Changes in Ethnic Space Succession – Washington Heights (New York)

Changes in Ethnic Space Succession – Washington Heights (New York)

Changes in Ethnic Space Succession – Washington Heights (New York) Even more recently “re”- succession - Jewish revival in Washington Heights Lower rent prices have brought younger Jews to the Washington Heights neighborhood.  Increase in Jewish businesses

Identity and space Space: “Social relations stretched out” Place: “Particular articulations of those social relations as they have come together, over time, in that particular location” Massey and Jess  Place making in the context of surrounding social relationships

Identity and space Gendered places

Identity and space Gendered places

Identity and space e.g. “Gendered” places - Boys (or girls) High Schools - Restrooms - Gender-divided restaurant areas - Women-only subway cars

Identity and space Gendered places

Identity and space

Identity and space - Sexuality Heteronormative: Viewpoint that white, heterosexual, male is “normal” Identity cluster - How spaces are created - What problems they have Queer theory: Focuses on political engagement of “queers” with the “heteronormative”

Identity and space - Sexuality

Identity and power relationships Power relationships (who has control over others) - Direct effect on identity (e.g. Majority vs. minority Superior vs. inferior) - Affects cultural landscapes (e.g. the dominant “power” determines what is seen in the cultural landscape)

Identity and power relationships Who “counts”? - The U.S. (and many other countries’) Census undercounts: - Minority populations - The homeless

Identity and power relationships Gross National Income (GNI) does not count - Unpaid work of women in the household - Work done by rural women in poorer countries - The informal economy: Private, often home-based activities such as tailoring, beer brewing, food preparation

Identity and power relationships

GEM (Gender Empowerment Measure)

Women in Subsaharan Africa Populate much of the rural areas, as men migrate to cities for work Produce 70% of the region’s food Small percentage of women have legal title to their land

Dowry Deaths in India Murders of brides (often by burning) when a dispute arises over a dowry Difficult to “legislate away” the power relationships that lead to dowry deaths - Female infanticide also tied to the disempowerment of women

Honor killings in Pakistan - Killing of a family member (usually female) or member of a social group by other members (male) because the victim is perceived to have brought shame/dishonor on the group. Some reasons: - sex outside of marriage - victim of rape - homosexuality - Inappropriate dress

Cultural assimilation Example: Native American (and Canadian First Nations) women were often married to white men. Native children taken from their tribes and sent to special schools (learned “European” culture and English).  Aim was to “civilize” the savages by assimilating them into the new dominant culture (European).  Result: loss of tradition, language, etc.

Cultural assimilation “Tom Torlino” - Navajo

Identity, Gender – Current Events Islamic State (ISIS, IS, ISIL, etc.)

Identity, Gender – Current Events Islamic State (ISIS, IS, ISIL, etc.) - Taking of women and children as “spoils of war”  Citing of Islamic traditions for rationale. - Women married off or sold as sexual slaves (awarded as prizes for IS fighters)

Identity, Gender – Current Events

Unit 5 - Language - Languages and the role they play in culture - Language distribution - Diffusion of language - Language and places

Unit 5 - Language What?!

Language - definitions Language? - A set of sounds, combinations of sounds, and symbols used for communication Standard language? - A language that is published, widely distributed, and purposefully taught

Most commonly spoken/used languages

Most commonly spoken/used languages - The figures will vary by source Mandarin Spanish English Arabic Hindi

Most commonly spoken/used languages - The figures will vary by source

Spread of English How did English become so widespread? What effects has this had on the world? - Positive - Negative How does “English Mania” affect cultural landscape?

Languages and culture Many sociologists and linguists (and sociolinguists) often state: Language = Culture

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