ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION The statement that the ‘personal is political’ has achieved quite widespread currency since it was first used as part of the feminist movement in the 1960s. It neatly sums up the idea that politics is to be found in each and every aspect of our daily lives, and is not restricted to the more formal machinery of parliament and government. The latter concern with formal politics dominated political geography for many years and led to an emphasis on a seemingly distant and specialized sphere of activity to do with political parties, elections, governments and public policy. Although there was the notion that everyday life was affected by such processes, there was little conception that politics was actually part of our day-to-day lives. It was something that was carried out by other people (politicians and civil servants) and that went on elsewhere (in government institutions).
