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"American tragedies occur where middle America frequents every day: airplanes, business offices, marathons. Where there persists a tangible fear that this could happen to any of us. And rightfully so. Deaths and mayhem anywhere are tragic. That should always be the case. The story here is where American tragedies don't occur. American tragedies don't occur on the southside of Chicago or the New Orleans 9th Ward." No comment yet.
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Gender imbalances in China have created a generation of men for whom finding love is no easy task
Seth Dixon's insight:
Cultural preferences for boys in China has led to a gender imbalance which has some unintended consequences, especially for the those seeking to have families with limited financial resources. Tags: gender, China, population. 
Annika Della Vedova's comment,
May 4, 4:05 PM
Because of the gender imbalance females get more of a chose on who they marry. They are however basing much of their choose on wealth. because of this their are about 40-50 million bachelors who are mostly poor.
Cassie Frazier's comment,
May 4, 8:45 PM
Today in China, love has become more about wealth than romance. Because of the gender imbalance created by the one child policy, there are many more men than women, as boys are the preferred sex. This has shifted the task of choosing a spouse to the women, and they want fancy things. Therefore, they tend to choose the rich to marry. The problem is that there are at least 40-50 million poor men in China, and the majority are alone. When men reach 30 and are still unmarried, they are called "leftovers". These men are much more likely to get into trouble. This is so sad because they are so lonely. By preferring males, China has created a huge group of men who may have to live forever alone.
Taylor Anderson's comment,
May 6, 1:43 PM
There is a huge gender imbalance making people choose between love and money
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TED Talks For the past two years, photographer Lisa Kristine has traveled the world, documenting the unbearably harsh realities of modern-day slavery. This is a chilling glimpse into the worst and darkest side of the economic systems of geography and labor in the world. It is estimated that there are more than 25 million people who today live in state that can be described as modern-day slavery. We should not discuss slavery only in the past tense, and yet it conflicts with how most people conceptualize the world today. Questions to Ponder: How can this even be happening in the 21st century? What geographic and economic forces lead to these situations portrayed in this TED talk? What realistically could be done to lessen the amount of slavery in the world today? Tags: TED, labor, economic, class, poverty, South Asia, Africa, video. 
Kyle Toner's comment,
November 6, 2012 12:17 PM
This video truly opened eyes into the conflict of modern day slavery. I had no idea just how prevalent, global and horrible this situation is.
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From technology to equality, five ways the world is getting better all the time... This article by former President of the United States Bill Clinton, outlines numerous ways that globalization can improve the world, especially in developing regions. He uses examples from around the world and includes numerous geographic themes.
Tags: technology, medical, economic, gender, class, globalization, development, worldwide. Delete the scoop?
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Landesa partners with governments and local NGOs to ensure the world's poorest families have secure land rights, which develops sustainable economic growth and improves education, nutrition, and conservation...
Globally speaking, women are the primary agricultural workers yet rarely own land. 
Michael Crumpton's comment,
March 20, 8:38 PM
I'm not quite sure i understand why the woman aren't allowed time saving technalogy if it is they who till the fields. Why is that?
dilaycock's comment,
March 21, 1:30 AM
I think the answer lies in the patriarchal nature of many societies in the developing world. Women provide the labour, but are not in a position to make decisions about management of the land. This situation is exacerbated by gender inequities regarding access to education.
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Tourism Concern fights exploitation in the global tourism industry. We are an independent, non-industry based, UK charity.
This is another way to conceptualize the geographic impacts of tourism. Wealthy tourists from developed countries spend their money in less developed countries, creating a power imbalance within the local community between locals and tourists. Local absolutely need the tourists dollars but these funds come and a social and environmental cost. Tourists use far more local resources per capita than the local residents, one reason why some refer to tourism as an 'irritant industry.' What other forms of social friction can arise from tourism? For a more detailed response to this situation see this news article in the Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/2012/jul/08/fresh-water-tourist-developing Delete the scoop?
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One of the focal points of the protests raging in Zuccotti Park and around the world is the sizable gap between the rich and everyone else. Yet as the below graphic shows, there are many different levels of wealth among even the richest of the rich. Delete the scoop?
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See how your household income ranks in 344 zones across the country.
It isn't always about how much you make, but purchasing power, cost of living and local economic situations show us that one number doesn't tell the story of the national economy. This interactive feature compares household incomes with how they would compare with other regions of the country. Delete the scoop?
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India’s era of economic growth has created something unthinkable a generation ago: business opportunities for members of India’s untouchable caste, the Dalits.
Critics of globalization often site that globalization has changed indigenous cultures around the world and mourn the 'impurities' in these societies. Is all cultural change a bad thing? This article shows one way that global capitalism has been helping (some of) the poorest of the poor within India. How is globalization connected to cultural changes within any given society? How is capitalism changing a formerly 'immobile' social structure? Delete the scoop?
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The poor in the U.S.are disproportionately clustered in a handful of southern states...
This image is worth an entire class period of economic geography... Delete the scoop?
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"http://www.ted.com We feel instinctively that societies with huge income gaps are somehow going wrong. Richard Wilkinson charts the hard data on economic inequality, and shows what gets worse when rich and poor are too far apart..." Delete the scoop?
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The richest Americans are gathered in a handful of metropolitan areas...
Spatial analysis shows that that 1% are not only economically clustered, but also geographically clustered in a handful of major metropolitan areas. Delete the scoop?
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Occupy Wall Street is a potent reminder of the ancient civic ideal of public space, and how far we have drifted from it in the modern era.
"Imagine Zuccotti Park, one protester told me, as a Venn diagram of characters representing disparate political and economic disenchantments. The park is where their grievances overlap. It’s literally common ground." Posted in many sites, but since this article treats the important of place as its central point, it merits reposting. This article also situates the current protests within a deeper historical context as so many movements have 'taken to the streets.' Delete the scoop?
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Infographics on the distribution of wealth in America, highlighting both the inequality and the difference between our perception of inequality and the actua...
Seth Dixon's insight:
This video does have a political bent that may or may not reflect your views, but it nicely lays out data that graphically represents the economic differences that we see in the United States today. Our perception is as skewed as what is and what we think it should be. Delete the scoop?
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The U.S. economy once worked like a finely meshed machine. That is not true anymore. The U.S. economy is still a powerful engine, but workers aren’t seeing the benefits, less-educated men are struggling, and the rich have disconnected from everyone else.
Seth Dixon's insight:
The problems with the economy are not universally spread throughout society. Certain segments are impacted more than others by the current struggles, especially when with look at axes of identity, such as class, gender and ethnicity. While planning on a blue-collar job in the 1950s could have been a solid career plan for a young man in the United States, not so in the 21st century. Delete the scoop?
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A professor criticizes the "culture of quantification," (in the journal cultural geographies) arguing that we don't do enough with the data we collect. If all we do is count (or attempt to count the homeless), does that help them in any way or change the realities that lead to homelessness? Are we counting them just to give us the numbers to receive credit that may help other programs but not help the homeless? Is data for data's sake of any value? UPDATE: Another geographer noted some other issues of homelessness on the website facebook page, specifically in regard to this map of homelessness: "A problem associated with this map is that while the numbers get smaller, it raises the question: where did they go? (answer: Hollywood, after an emphasis on policing pushed them out)...this could be tied in to a discussion about map scale." Tags: statistics, class, census, socioeconomic, housing, poverty. Via Allison Anthony Delete the scoop?
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This is a most decidedly dated reference for pop culture, but a great movie for making explicit the idea that the way we speak is connected to where we've lived (also a good clip to show class differences as well as gender norms). The clip highlights many principles and patterns for understanding the geography of languages. Tags: Language, class, gender, culture, historical, London, unit 3 culture and place. 
João Carreira's comment,
September 4, 2012 1:24 PM
...Even as portuguese, I apreceated it very much. Thank you.
Don Brown Jr's comment,
September 6, 2012 9:30 AM
This movie clip does demonstrate how language is connected not only to space and location but individual or group experiences as well. The languages used by the upper and lower orders in addressing each other or an “outsider” are very distinct within this film. Therefore if you’re socioeconomic status effects the way you speak then perhaps the type of langue you use can indicate what different social groups within a society consider comical or entertaining such as dance and music?
Jess Pitrone's comment,
April 29, 9:18 PM
My Fair Lady has always been one of my favorite movies, and it really sparked my interest in linguistics and accents. Not only does your accent define where you’re from physically, but it defines where you’re from socially, as well. While Eliza Doolittle is from the same country, region, and city as Prof Higgins and the people coming out of the theater, she sounds completely different. Right away, her speech gives away what kind of social background she comes from.
Similarly to the “When did Americans lose their British accents?” article, this article helps relay how accents can help define a physical area, and it also shows a connection between accent and economics. Accent is both a cultural and an economic part of geography. Delete the scoop?
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"Residential segregation by income has increased during the past three decades across the United States and in 27 of the nation’s 30 largest major metropolitan area, according to a new analysis of census tract and household income data by the Pew Research Center. The analysis finds that 28% of lower-income households in 2010 were located in a majority lower-income census tract, up from 23% in 1980, and that 18% of upper- income households were located in a majority upper-income census tract, up from 9% in 1980." This interactive map allows the user to explore the 10 largest metropolitan areas in the U.S. Read the article associated with this map. Delete the scoop?
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Despite the country’s claims to be a sleek 21st-century meritocracy, the habits of centuries of discrimination and social exclusion are not so easily shaken.
India is modernizing at a rapid pace, but some old class problems rooted in the caste system are still visible. This is part of a large series called "Breaking Caste" with some excellent videos, articles and personal vignettes to humanize the struggles of those at the bottom of the social hierarchy. 
Stacey Jackson's curator insight,
May 8, 8:34 PM
This was a very sad story to read. It's a shame that many Dalit students feel ostracized at elite Indian institutions, so much so some go as far as to commit suicide. This is a terrible personal loss for the families and neighbors of the students. But it also is unfortunate news for the country as a whole. India's economic and social growth likely depends on moving beyond old views on class and cate. Delete the scoop?
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Apple once bragged that its products were made in America. But it has since shifted its immense manufacturing work overseas, posing questions about what corporate America owes Americans.
The economics of globalization are at the core of this article, Apple just happens to be the case-study. Why are iPhones not produced in the United States? While it would be easy to simply cite cheap labor, it is more complicated than that. Unfortunately for those hoping to rekindle American industry, the problems run deeper than that. The ability to recruit sufficient highly-trained engineers, flexibility and speed in production are all factors that are decisively in China's corner at the moment. Big picture, how are these economic factors reshaping the world we live in? Delete the scoop?
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More than 50 percent of ZIP Codes in the United States have an above average percentage of households living at or below the poverty line. What are the spatial factors that lead to a concentration of wealth in particular places? What economic, political and cultural factors play a role in the process of places amassing more wealth or of creating persistant poverty? Via Nicholas Goubert Delete the scoop?
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Federal education policy seems blind to the relationship between poverty and student performance.
An interesting op-ed that focuses on the educational performance in the United States and poverty. The authors feel that class is an obvious factor in educational performance, but that educational policies do not reflect the geographic factors that lead to uneven results. 
Melissa Tan's curator insight,
February 3, 9:05 AM
In this article, i have found out that children in more well to do families do better in their studies then children who come from poorer famlies. The background that the children come are important to the people living in that country. Children are looked at according to their family's status in the society. Unfortunate children who come from poorer homes are not given a many opportunites in education which i think is the wrong and unfair to do this. Poverty even affects the education of chilren which i think is very unreasonable. 
Tan Jun Wei's curator insight,
February 3, 1:11 PM
This is my insight using one of the thinking methods. As stated in the article, students who are poorer, tend to perform less well in school, on average, than their friends. Due to their backgrounds, they are not able to perform well and also they have to face the fact that their family are in need of money, affecting their performance in school. I think that education is important for everyone as everyone has the right to learn and study and also education is an important factor of life as we can apply what we learn to our daily lives. Without education, we would not know how to read and we would also not know many other things and a good education will unable us to earn more money and make our lives better. I wonder if the government or any schools or organisations would provide free education to students whose family are poor and also help the family out with their financial problems so that the student as concentrate on their studies and perform well in school and not be affected by their family financial problems. 
Poon Ying Ying's curator insight,
February 4, 7:38 AM
From this article, i understand that poverty affects the results of kids in schoo. It is true that students from the least advantage households perform less well in school compared to their peers of a more advantaged background. This shows that the background a child is from is important, however the backgrounds of students cannot be changed, therefore the education law is trying to increase the expectations of schools. It is sad that kids of poor background family have difficulty sending their child to school as I think that everyone should have a chance to be exposed to learning. The government or organisations should have programmes or events held for the poor kids to have free education, so that they will not miss out chances to learn. Education is an important factor, in the future life, without education, you cannot venture far. I wonder what is the impression of education for the poor? How are the poor being educated? Delete the scoop?
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In Guatemala City, a place called "The Mine" can deliver both a means of survival and a grisly death. Every day, dozens of residents salvage a living by scouring the massive dump for scrap metal.
This thanksgiving I'd like to discuss one of my goals in teaching a geography course in the developed world. I hope to cultivate a sense of thanksgiving and gratitude for the many good things that are easy to take for granted. Balanced with that, I try to teach that economic disparities are NOT a function of moral, mental or physical superiority. Therefore I try to instill a sense of thankfulness that does not become boastfulness or entitlement--hopefully that ethos will infuse this day's festivities. Happy Thanksgiving! 
's comment, January 30, 2012 2:23 PM
makes me thankful for the jobs i have. i also wonder what the health side effects are of working in these locations. are the workers experiencing shorter life spans or anything like that?
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Celia Dugger reports from the Kwamfundo School near Cape Town on South Africa's struggling public education system. This poignant clip shows that South Africa may be in a post-apartheid era, but most certainly not a post-racial era as schools are as deeply divided as ever. 
Seth Dixon's comment,
December 4, 2011 9:52 PM
I'm also inspired by their passion for learning but fear that ambition without resources will doom the majority of these students just based on their circumstances. While a few individuals can fight the odds, the society is structurally still not working in their favor.
's comment, December 8, 2011 1:41 PM
After I get my teaching degree, if I wasn't such a chicken, I would love to move here and teach these truely inspiring children, who really really want to learn. It would be an honor to do so!
Matt Mallinson's comment,
November 5, 2012 3:06 PM
It's nice to see kids in Africa so motivated to become doctors, engineers, etc. The problem is the education they're getting.
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A new study finds that ignorance of one's relative standing in the income distribution is not unique to Americans, and looks at the policy consequences of such misperceptions.
The terms high-class and low-class have such strong negative connotations that everyone seeks to be perceived as middle class. What income bracket are you in? The research says it'll probably be a surprise. Data for income bracket is the USA: http://taxpolicycenter.org/numbers/displayatab.cfm?DocID=2879 
Lisa Fonseca's comment,
October 17, 2011 10:59 PM
I do not believe everyone is considered to be middle class. I think that is a false statement. I truly believe in the phrase "rich get richer, poor get poorer" I consider myself and my family working middle class. Our income isn't incredibly high but it is average. We have money for food, clothing, bill paying and essentials but also have the extra to travel, and spoil ourselves. That is where the difference lies between middle, low, and high class incomes. The lower class may only make money to support their selves and family with food. As for the high class they have money to do anything they want. Pay bills, buy the essentials. Although they get to have dinner out every night, buy the fancy cars and clothes. The low class may live a stressful like as the high class live a glorious life.
Seth Dixon's comment,
October 17, 2011 11:14 PM
Everyone most definitely is not a part of the middle class and Catherine Rampell of the NY Times does not believe that (as I interpret her) but is using that hyperbolic statement to make the point that more people SELF IDENTIFY with the middle class than can actually be there. I think she agrees with your "rich get richer" since her main point is that this self-identification with the middle class obscures the rising social inequity in America. I agree too. Thanks for your comments!
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This is a controversial Op-Ed article that discusses how place and the major axes of identity (race, class and gender) shape and intersect with the the national memory of violence and the media portrayal of violence. According the David Dennis, "The media seems to forget about New Orleans and any place that the middle class can't easily relate to."
Tags: race, class, gender, place.