ABSTRACT
Islands give expression to particular sets of gendered and sexual arrangements that deserve consideration by feminist geographers and sociologists, island scholars, and other social scientists: this is because of, for example, their apparent isolation; ecological particularities; connections among visitors, tourists, experts, or kin; long-standing transnational social networks; distinct forms of militarism; or locally enduring communities. This chapter presents an empirical application of island feminism, a perspective I develop to bridge feminist and queer insights and island studies thought. My intentions are to enrich the critical perspectives brought to bear in the study of island places, and to examine social inequalities on islands. Nuanced understandings of islandness depend on appreciating and assessing the gendered experiences and social and spatial organisation of island communities. An island feminist perspective can also expand the scope of feminism, benefitting future strategies for island policies – including those that address economic development or climate change – by recognising and supporting the varied gendered strategies needed to maintain island livelihoods and preserve island topologies.
