Northampton Electronic Collection of Theses and Research

Disabilities in academic workplaces: experiences of human and physical geographers

Horton, J. and Tucker, F. (2014) Disabilities in academic workplaces: experiences of human and physical geographers. Transactions of The Institute of British Geographers. 39(1), pp. 76-89. 1475-5661.

Item Type: Article
Abstract: This paper considers the experiences of 75 university-based human and physical geographers who define themselves as disabled. We explore how diverse disabilities intersect with academic careers, lifestyles and workplaces, focusing on some common disciplinary and institutional spaces of human and physical geography. We identify two self-selecting groups of geographers who participated in our research. First, we discuss the experiences of those geographers who are active and politicised in relation to their disabilities, and have worked to effect inclusionary change in their institutional and disciplinary spaces. Second, we highlight the less ‘hopeful’ experiences of geographers with mental health conditions that are undisclosed in workplace contexts. We suggest that these data should prompt reflection on the institutional and disciplinary spaces we inhabit and constitute: especially how (to quote one respondent) spaces of academia may be ‘conducive to poor mental health … [i]t is practically the norm to be sleep-deprived, working until the early hours, behind with deadlines, underpaid, on short contracts, full of caffeine and alcohol.'
Uncontrolled Keywords: Disabilities, workplaces, human and physical geography, mental health, academia
Subjects: H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology > HV1551 People with disabilities
L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB2300 Higher Education > LB2331.7 Teaching personnel
G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > G Geography (General) > G73 Study and teaching
Creators: Horton, John and Tucker, Faith
Funders or Sponsors: Higher Education Academy Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences (GEES) Subject Centre
Publisher: Blackwell Publishing
Faculties, Divisions and Institutes: University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Research Centre > The Centre for Children and Youth
University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > School of Social Sciences (to 2016)
University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Faculty of Education & Humanities > Education, Children and Young People
Faculties > Faculty of Education & Humanities > Education, Children and Young People
Research Centres > Centre for Psychology and Social Sciences
Faculties > Faculty of Health & Society > Applied Social Studies & Sociology
Date: January 2014
Date Type: Publication
Page Range: pp. 76-89
Journal or Publication Title: Transactions of The Institute of British Geographers
Volume: 39
Number: 1
Language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/tran.12009
ISSN: 1475-5661
Status: Published / Disseminated
Refereed: Yes
URI: http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/id/eprint/5269

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