GEOGRAPHY EDUCATION

See on Scoop.it – Geography Education

U.S. census data shows racial diversity is increasing in major cities across the United States. But highly diverse neighborhoods are still rare, newly arrive…

I’ve read within the last few months articles mentioning that segregation in inner city neighborhood are on the rise, and other headlines stating that ethnic diversity within urban areas is at an all-time high.  My first reaction was, “so which is it?”  This research shows how to make sense of both of these trends which seem contradictory.  For more context on this issue, see this Atlantic Cities article.

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See on Scoop.it – Regional Geography

High inflation, slowing growth and a broken food distribution system mean some are eating less in India. 

While India is often referenced as a rising economic star in the globalizing economy and a destination for outsourced jobs.  Still, these economic developments aren’t influencing all people within India. 

See on india.blogs.nytimes.com

See on Scoop.it – Geography Education

Many items are marketed specifically for boys or girls.  Boys are given rugged survival skills, while the girl’s guide suggests tips of social interactions.  How is this a result of cultural patterns and processes?  How does this form of gendered marketing produce cultural patterns and processed?

See on thesocietypages.org

See on Scoop.it – Geography Education

“Some four decades after welcoming foreign assembly plants and factories, known as maquiladoras, Mexico has seen only a trickle of its industrial and factory workers join the ranks of those who even slightly resemble a middle class.” 

Despite making such consumer goods like BlackBerry smartphones, plasma TVs, appliances and cars that most people in the US, for instance, consider necessities, Mexican workers in these factories seldom get to enjoy these items because, as this article argues, the labor system keeps them in poverty.  Foreign investment in these businesses keep unions out and attracts workers from poorer areas, allowing low-cost labor to prevail.  Less than $8 a day is the going wage – great for the bottom line and consumer prices but very bleak for those who toil in this system.

See on www.mcclatchydc.com

See on Scoop.it – Geography Education

Our car-dependent lifestyle has led to a dramatic rise in obesity-related illnesses. But we can do something about it.

What does urban planning have to do with our health?  Plenty.  More walkable cities not surprisingly have citizens that are healthier and more fit.   

See on www.theatlanticcities.com

See on Scoop.it – Geography Education

Rick Reilly tells the story of a woman’s efforts to swim topless after a double mastectomy.

We have deeply ingrained social norms about what is and is not acceptable within public spaces.  Certain cases come along that show that these norms often treat the world as though it is black and white without varying shades of gray.  In this case, a woman who has had both of her breasts completely removed after breast cancer, discovered that convention swimsuits physically pained her and she wanted to swim topless in a public pool.  Controversy predictably ensued.  What do you think?  Big deal?  Non-issue?  Acceptable in public or not?  Why?

See on espn.go.com

See on Scoop.it – Cultural Geography

A citizen asks: How do different countries deal with underage drinking? Latitude News listens, then responds.

Age limits are more determined by culture than by data.  What other age-restricted activities are culturally based?  Why are they different in particular regions? 

See on www.latitudenews.com

See on Scoop.it – Geography Education

Residents of hillside shanties above the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince protest against plans to clear their homes for a flood-protection project.

Even before the earthquake, Port-au-Prince was a city filled with slums.  The earthquake exacerbated so many of the urban, economic and environmental issues.  This eviction of the flood plains has class implications as the poor feel that they are being unfairly targeted in plans to improve the city. 

See on www.bbc.co.uk