Care of the Subject: Feminism and Critiques of GIS

• Published in: Gender, place and culture : a journal of feminist geography Vol. 9; no. 3; pp. 291 - 299
• Main Authors: Schuurman, Nadine, Pratt, Geraldine
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis Group 01.09.2002; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Cultural studies; Discourse Analysis; Feminism; Gender; Gender studies; Geographic Information Systems; Geographical information systems; Geography; Human geography; Methodological Problems; Technology
• ISSN: 0966-369X; 1360-0524
• DOI: 10.1080/0966369022000003905

Critique is a fundamental part of academic discourse. It is a means for researchers to critically examine assumptions, ideas, statements, & theories. While there may be general agreement about the integral value of critique to scientific & intellectual enterprises, less attention has been paid to the form & delivery of critique. This article argues that 'how' critique is expressed, as well as what its objectives are, is critical to achieving changes in any research area. We start from the position that many of the critiques of geographic information systems (GIS) have aimed to demonstrate what is 'wrong' with this subdiscipline of geography rather than engaging critically with the technology. Critics have judged the processes & outcomes of GIS as problematic without grounding their criticism in the practices of the technology. This follows a pattern of external critique in which the investigator has little at stake in the outcome. External critiques from human geographers tend to be concerned with epistemological assumptions & social repercussions, while internal critiques have focused on the technical. But there is a further difference. Internal critiques have a stake in the future of the technology while external ones tend not to (Pratt, 1996). While dividing critiques of GIS into 'external' & 'internal' oversimplifies the field, we use it as a heuristic to delineate broad differences in approach. By drawing on feminist analyses of critique, we argue for a form of critique that transcends this binary by tackling enframing assumptions while remaining invested in the subject. To be constructive, critique must care for the subject. A feminist critique of GIS engages more directly with GIS practices, & need not reproduce the antagonistic dualisms that have characterized debates about GIS & technology to date. 41 References. Adapted from the source document.