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“Girlfriend getaway” as a contested term: Discourse analysis

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  • Berdychevsky, Liza
  • Gibson, Heather J.
  • Bell, Heather L.

Abstract

All-female leisure travel is a fast growing tourism market segment that is frequently called “girlfriend getaways.” This study explored the meanings associated with the “girlfriend getaway” term, using discourse analysis to understand the ways women build significance, activities, identities, relationships, politics, connections, and sign systems and knowledge with respect to it. Eleven focus groups and 15 individual interviews were conducted with 83 American and Canadian women. The analysis revealed that “girlfriend getaway” is a term with contested and polysemous meanings. While some women found it to be adequate, accurate, cute, and reflective of their all-female tourist experiences, others described it as stereotypical, narrow/claustrophobic, “pink,” inadequate, and unreflective of their experiences. At times, the same symbolic meanings attracted some women but alienated others. Thus, tourism marketers need to identify and engage with different strands within their female clientele to ensure that their strategies appropriately respond to various preferences and lifestyles.

Suggested Citation

  • Berdychevsky, Liza & Gibson, Heather J. & Bell, Heather L., 2016. "“Girlfriend getaway” as a contested term: Discourse analysis," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 106-122.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:touman:v:55:y:2016:i:c:p:106-122
    DOI: 10.1016/j.tourman.2016.02.001
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Curry, Phillip & O'Brien, Marita, 2006. "The male heart and the female mind: A study in the gendering of antidepressants and cardiovascular drugs in advertisements in Irish medical publication," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 62(8), pages 1970-1977, April.
    2. Berdychevsky, Liza & Poria, Yaniv & Uriely, Natan, 2013. "Sexual behavior in women's tourist experiences: Motivations, behaviors, and meanings," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 144-155.
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    Cited by:

    1. Chen, Xiaolian & Mak, Barry, 2020. "Understanding Chinese girlfriend getaways: an interdependence perspective," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).

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