Social Geography

Social Geography can be defined as the modern, spatial organization of cities and suburbs, and how it influences, limits, and constrains the individual consumer’s choices (Szasz 46).

In light of modern consumption, politics are aimed on changing individual habits, when most forms of detrimental consumption are collective or fixed. This is due to a social geography present in city and suburbs that influences consumer choices. These cities and suburbs are built around a spatial organization that requires the use of private automobile.

The vast majority of individuals in society are presented only with preexisting choices. Choices such as where to go eat, what home to buy or rent, or options for recreation. This influences how far an individual must drive and what type of green alternatives that are available to them. Furthermore, it constrains the individual’s food choices to those in their immediate vicinity; or for example, closest shopping mall.

Further Reading’s

Szasz, Andrew. “Consumption.” Keywords for Environmental Studies, edited by Joni Adamson et al., NYU Press, 2016, pp. 44–47. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt15zc5kw.18.

Krieg, Eric. “The Greenwashing of America.” Contexts, vol. 7, no. 2, 2008, pp. 58–59., doi:10.1525/ctx.2008.7.2.58.