ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Critical geography

Okay kiddo, let's talk about critical geography!

What is geography in the first place? Geography is all about studying the world around us: the land, the oceans, the climate, the people, the animals, and everything else in between. Critical geography is a way of looking at and studying geography that is a bit different from the way most people do it.

Critical geographers study how different groups of people use and interact with space (think of space as the areas around us, like a city, a park, or a room in your house). They ask questions like:

- Who has access to certain spaces and why?
- How do different groups of people use the same space in different ways?
- How does space affect people's lives and their sense of identity?

Critical geographers don't just look at space as a neutral thing that exists on its own. They see space and the people in it as interconnected and shaped by each other. For example, a city's built environment (like buildings and roads) can affect how people move around and interact with each other. And the people who live in a certain area can shape that area's culture and identity.

So, why is critical geography important? It helps us understand how power and inequalities play out in our world. By looking at who has access to certain spaces and resources, we can see how some people may have more opportunities than others. Critical geography encourages us to think critically about the world around us, and to ask questions about who benefits from the way things are, and who might be left behind.