It's Not Voluntourism”: Unpacking Young People's Narrative Claims to Authenticity and Differentiation in the International Volunteer Experience
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“It's Not Voluntourism”: Unpacking Young People's Narrative Claims to Authenticity and Differentiation in the International Volunteer Experience Kaylan C. Schwarz Newnham College July 2016 This dissertation is submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Faculty of Education - University of Cambridge Declaration This dissertation is the result of my own work and includes nothing which is the outcome of work done in collaboration except as declared in the Preface and specified in the text. It is not substantially the same as any that I have submitted, or, is being concurrently submitted for a degree or diploma or other qualification at the University of Cambridge or any other University or similar institution except as declared in the Preface and specified in the text. I further state that no substantial part of my dissertation has already been submitted, or, is being concurrently submitted for any such degree, diploma or other qualification at the University of Cambridge or any other University of similar institution except as declared in the Preface and specified in the text. It does not exceed the prescribed word limit of 80,000 words. Kaylan C. Schwarz Acknowledgements This thesis is indebted to the intellectual guidance and emotional encouragement of my brilliant supervisor and mentor, Dr. Hilary Cremin. Throughout the constant metamorphosis of this project, your key insights, constructive feedback, on-going collegiality and unremitting confidence in my abilities have enabled me to find my voice as a scholar. To my remarkable husband Ryan, who has continuously embraced my compulsion toward academic inquiry. You never flinched at the sacrifices you would be asked to make in order to support me in this journey (my extended absences, the financial strain, single parenting our French bulldog). Our marriage - conducted primarily over Skype and across two continents - has been a constant source of joy, companionship and deep fulfilment. You are the most wonderful person I could hope to know. To my fellow doctoral researchers and dearest companions: Dawn and Dan Sardella- Ayres, Niki Sol, Claire Crawford, Kevin Kester and Leigh-Anne Ingram. Thank you for always taking a sincere interest in my progress, and for standing behind me as a cheering squad. To the international volunteers that shared their stories with me and the sending organisation that facilitated my field visit - I am grateful for your time and candour. Finally, this research was made possible by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, the University of Cambridge Smuts Memorial Fund and the University of Cambridge Mary Euphrasia Mosley, Sir Bartle Frere & Worts Travel Fund. I appreciate your commitment to assisting aspiring scholars like myself. Table of Contents Introduction .................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Overview ........................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Introducing Travel Narratives ........................................................................... 1 1.3 Introducing International Volunteering ............................................................ 3 1.4 Personal Context ............................................................................................... 6 Situating International Volunteering ............................................................ 9 2.1 Contextualising International Volunteering ..................................................... 9 2.2 Capitalising on International Volunteering .................................................... 11 2.2.1 Pursuing Differentiation.......................................................................... 14 2.3 Critiquing International Volunteering ............................................................ 17 2.3.1 Unskilled Volunteers .............................................................................. 18 2.3.2 Neo-Colonial Volunteers ........................................................................ 20 The Pursuit of Authentic Travel Experience .............................................. 23 3.1 The Authentic Turn in Tourism Literature ..................................................... 23 3.2 Constituting Authentic Travel Experience ..................................................... 25 3.2.1 Degree of Difference from Modern Life ................................................ 26 3.2.2 Decommodified Interactions with Local People ..................................... 28 3.2.3 Degree of Difficulty Endured ................................................................. 30 Visual Discourse in Tourism Studies ......................................................... 33 4.1 The Tourist Gaze ............................................................................................ 33 4.2 The Humanitarian Aid Industry ...................................................................... 34 4.3 Self-Presentation on Social Media .................................................................. 37 4.4 Conclusion ...................................................................................................... 39 Theoretical Influences ................................................................................ 41 5.1 The Dramaturgical Perspective ....................................................................... 41 5.2 Whiteness Studies ........................................................................................... 44 5.3 Youth in Late Modernity ................................................................................ 47 5.4 Research Questions ......................................................................................... 49 Methodology .............................................................................................. 51 6.1 Research Stance .............................................................................................. 51 6.2 Positionality .................................................................................................... 52 6.3 Research Study ............................................................................................... 53 6.3.1 The Volunteer Excursion ........................................................................ 54 6.3.2 Participants .............................................................................................. 55 6.4 Data Collection ............................................................................................... 58 6.4.1 Verbal Text ............................................................................................. 59 6.4.2 Visual Text .............................................................................................. 63 6.4.3 Field Notes .............................................................................................. 66 6.5 Data Analysis .................................................................................................. 69 6.5.1 Procedural Approach .............................................................................. 69 6.5.2 Interpretive Stance .................................................................................. 71 6.6 Data Presentation ............................................................................................ 72 6.7 Ethical Considerations .................................................................................... 73 6.8 Researcher Performance ................................................................................. 74 6.9 Methodological Challenges ............................................................................ 75 6.10 Limitations .................................................................................................... 76 6.11 Credibility ..................................................................................................... 77 6.12 Thesis Overview ........................................................................................... 79 “You Get a Real Kenyan Experience”: Unpacking Narrative Claims to Authenticity.................................................................................................................. 80 7.1 Claiming Authenticity .................................................................................... 81 7.2 Remoteness of Place ....................................................................................... 84 7.3 Engagement in Everyday Life ........................................................................ 90 7.3.1 Staying in Local-Style Accommodation ................................................. 90 7.3.2 Taking Public Transportation ................................................................. 97 7.4 Intimate Interactions with Local People ....................................................... 100 7.4.1 Engaging in Meaningful Conversations................................................ 102 7.4.2 Sharing Meals ....................................................................................... 104 7.5 Threats to Authenticity ................................................................................. 108 7.5.1 Concealing Private Thoughts and Feelings........................................... 108 7.5.2 Being Positioned as Privileged White Foreigners ................................ 111 7.5.3 Deflecting Sexual Advances ................................................................. 116 7.6 Conclusion ...................................................................................................