Wandering intellectuals: establishing a research agenda on gender, walking, and thinking

Abstract

Building on a study of three women who practice walking-for-thinking as a part of their intellectual work, the analysis identifies potential themes for a future research agenda on gender, walking, and thinking. A particular focus is the subtle, daily, management of gendered expectations and ways in which walking, for these women, is a contribution to such management. We name this ‘walking away from expectations’ and identify three themes: walking away from others’ gaze, walking away from restlessness and domestic responsibility, and walking away as belonging. Walking emerges as a skillful way of creating the conditions to do one’s intellectual work and manage gendered expectations. Further, the meanings of silences about gender in the context of intellectual work and walking is discussed and questions for future research agenda are suggested.

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis Group in Gender, Place and Culture: A Journal of Feminist Geography on 24/04/2017, available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0966369X.2017.1314940