The absence of fatherhood: achieving true gender scholarship in family tourism research

Abstract

Word count: 554659Key words: family holidays, gender relations, fathers, mothers, masculinities, tourist experiences 2 AbstractThe lack of research into fathers on holiday is a reminder that understandings of masculinities and gender relations in tourism are absent compared to other disciplinary areas. Research on family holiday experiences is largely informed by feminist gender representations rather then examinations of femininities and masculinities. True gender scholarship requires more holistic and critical appraisals of gender relations that recognise the intersection between gender and other social roles. This lead to the adoption of whole-family research for this study into domestic summer holiday experiences in New Zealand, based on ten families (ten fathers, ten mothers, and 20 children) being interviewed three times over the course of one year. The findings highlighted similarities and differences in the meanings and roles for the fathers and mothers. For example, fathers take on primary responsibilities as entertainer of the children and facilitator of mothers' own interests, roles which are little acknowledged in the literature.

Non-resident fathers’ holidays alone with their children: experiences, meanings and fatherhood

“…Themes common to fathers and family holidays arising in previous research regarding fathers and their travel experiences (Costa, 2014b;Schänzel & Smith, 2011) and in this study were: bonding/togetherness; physical activities; and father as entertainer. Given constraints of space, the themes more specific to leisure during non-resident father/parent holidays upon which we focus in this paper are: outdoor learning/generativity; broadening of horizons; facilitating family reconnection; repairing/mending of relationships; and responsibility/work/safety.…”

“…Family leisure travel research is largely focused on nuclear families (Carr, 2011;Obrador, 2012), and studies of family holiday experiences, with few exceptions, have been primarily informed by feminist approaches and traditions (Schänzel & Smith, 2011). These studies highlight the never-ending physical and emotional work of motherhood both at home and when travelling (i.e.…”

“…Mottiar & Quinn, 2012;Small, 2005). Although fathers have recently been recognised as important actors with a specific voice in the holiday experiences and practices of the family (Costa, 2014b;Schänzel & Smith, 2011), these studies are mostly based on heterosexual couples. A recent book by Thurnell-Read and Casey (2014) entitled Men, Masculinities, Travel and Tourism is an important contribution and exception to the travel and tourism literature, comprised of a collection of chapters focusing on men, masculinity and men's travel and interactions with other men and women.…”

“…Recognition of the intersection between the gender roles of mothers and fathers in leisure travel research, and their femininities and masculinities, or 'true gender research', represents a significant research gap (Schänzel & Smith, 2011).…”

“…A study by Schänzel and Smith (2011) found that fathers do take on primary responsibilities on family holiday. They are entertainers of the children and facilitators of mothers pursuing their own interests, roles which have not been acknowledged in the tourism literature in particular.…”