Original scientific paper
A discourse analysis of representational spaces: Writings of women independent traveller
Cheryl Cockburn-Wootten
; Management Communication Department, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
Lorraine Friend
; Department of Marketing Waikato Management School, The University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
Alison McIntosh
; Department of Tourism, Waikato Management School, The University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
Abstract
Since 1987 there has been a substantial growth in women travelling independently, with the mature welltravelled woman seeking more than a holiday lying on the beach. In response to this demand, there has been a plethora of travel guides which specifically target women by providing advice for and/or stories of independent female travellers. Women are noted to travel for different motivations than men. It is argued that independent women tourists travel for self-discovery, enlightenment, and/or educational purposes. They also view travel as an opportunity for respite from the confines and responsibilities of their domestic environment. Critical questions regarding how their travel is constructed and the meanings of women's travel experiences have not been addressed in the published literature to date. To advance our understanding of gender and tourism, and in particular, to examine gendered experiences of independent travelling, we used critical discourse analysis to investigate a selected travel guide. The Rough Guide to Women Travel: First Hand Accounts from More than 60 Countries, is examined to understand the role that discourse plays in the positioning of, and providing meaning for, independent women travellers. Findings indicate that, rather than escaping traditional notions of female dependence and associated values, these are actually reinstated in the construction of women as independent
travellers. Themes that emerged from the research include: caring for others and being cared for, danger and security, connecting and networking and redefined identities.
Keywords
women; travel stories; independent travel; identity
Hrčak ID:
161424
URI
Publication date:
8.3.2006.
Visits: 1.630 *