Erin Heeney's Thesis Defense

The new Master of Arts in Sustainable Leisure Management, in conjunction with our World Leisure Centre of Excellence is pleased to introduce Erin Heeney, Graduate Student in progress, who will be presenting her research and thesis.

Thesis Title: The Mutual Gaze: Connection and Understanding: the basis of a positive mutual gaze between residents of a small island developing state and a community of multi-national ocean cruisers

The purpose of this study was to evaluate how a range of factors influence the construction of the mutual gaze between residents of a small island developing state and a community of multi-national ocean cruisers. The mutual gaze is a complex two-sided visual construction of the tourist's impression of the host and vice versa (Maoz, 2006). In this case, how ocean cruisers (people who live on and travel by private sailing yacht) and residents interact with, portray themselves to, and perceive the other was explored.
Very little is known about their interactions with the communities they visit and the economic, social, and environmental impacts of their tourism activities. One way to evaluate their interactions is through the phenomenon known as the mutual gaze. The mutual gaze between residents of a small island developing state and a community of multi-national ocean cruisers was evaluated through an analysis of attitudes, behaviours, stereotypes, tensions, and sources of power. It was found that in this context, a positive mutual gaze based on understanding, a sense of connection, and real relationships between hosts and guests was the result of reciprocal attitudes and behaviours, few tensions, and few power struggles.

Date: December 10, 2012
Presentation: 10:00am – 12:00 noon
(light refreshments will be provided)Location: Building, 250 – 105