Gender and Rurality in Spanish Geography: A Systematic Literature Review

This review examines the development of gender studies in Spanish rural geography over the last two decades. To achieve this, the PRISMA framework was employed. The analysis of 80 articles revealed three main trends: (1) the reconfiguration of gender relations in the rural labour market, (2) the demographic and cultural impact of women’s mobility and return migration and (3) the notable silences surrounding sexualities and environmental issues. The literature shows a strong orientation toward feminist qualitative traditions, partly due to the limitations of gender-blind statistical systems and a preference for empirical, locally focused research. Beyond mapping the current state of the field, Spanish studies offer valuable insights for rethinking core concepts in rural studies and for enriching debates on the challenges and opportunities of integrating a gender perspective into rural development policy, particularly within the broader European context.