Embodied rural geographies: Developing research agendas

Abstract

This paper responds to the scarcity of work on rural embodiment. We argue that a consideration of ‘the body’ can contribute significantly to an understanding of rural social relations and communities. In particular, this paper provides an additional critical dimension to the understanding of the relationship between changing femininities, masculinities, rurality and the performance of sexuality in rural areas. It shows how dominant constructions of rural masculinity and femininity incorporate highly traditional assumptions about the body and reflect conventional attitudes to sexuality and gender identity. This paper gathers together some partial and underdeveloped ideas and data in the production of a more coordinated and sustained consideration of embodiment and rurality, and details some emerging research directions.