Abstract
In the first part of this paper we present the results of a bibliographic analysis of German-speaking academic theses and of journal articles explicitly discussing issues on gender and geography. The second part focuses on people, networks and institutions in the German-speaking context. For those familiar with gender research it is hardly surprising that women authors are almost exclusively the producers of this knowledge. Defensive conservatism against this innovative field of research seems to be stronger in Germany than in Austria and Switzerland. We identify a shift in the theoretical perspectives away from the originally dominating women studies towards gender studies perspectives in the publications analyzed, while men or masculinity studies are still missing. Two diverse interpretations must be taken into account for the significant recent decrease of the numbers of theses and articles. On the one hand we have to note a decrease in students’ interest in taking courses on gender. On the other hand the decline of publications explicitly focusing on gender is caused by a trend to mainstream gender into a broader discussion of social difference and identity.
Buehler, E