'School is Like an Ant's Nest': Spatiality and embodiment in schools

Abstract

Processes of differentiation and formation of subjectivities in schools have embodied and spatial components. This article illustrates the significance of what is termed the physical school by a discussion of space and embodiment organised through one of several metaphors that school students have used to describe their schools: an ants' nest. The metaphor tells a tale about the lack of spatial and embodied autonomy school students experience. Gendered meanings of the metaphor are also questioned. Gender is seen as dynamic and processual. The article is based on a collective work on 'Physical school' by the Gender and Education research network in Finland (1992-94). Theoretical concepts are elaborated further within another project in secondary schools 'Citizenship, difference and marginality in schools - with special reference to gender' that was in its preliminary phase when the article was written.