Gender research in rural geography

This review examines the development of research on gender within the broad arena of rural studies. It does so through four main themes: community, work, environment and sexuality. Drawing on work from a range of Western countries, the review shows how an early reluctance to engage with feminist research and work on gender more broadly has given way to a highly active, diverse and rich research direction in rural studies. The review selectively charts key phases in the development of rural gender studies and shows how research has moved from conceptualising rurality as 'container' for the creation, performance and contestation of gender roles to seeing the rural as integral to the actual construction of gender identities and to the ways they are performed and negotiated. As well as highlighting past research areas, the review suggests some directions for the future development of rural gender studies.