Racial Discrimination and African Americans' Travel Behavior: The Utility of Habitus and Vignette Technique. (March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lee, KangJae Jerry; Scott, David
• Is Part Of: Journal of travel research. Volume 56:Number 3(2017)
• Page Start: 381
• Page End: 392
• Publication Date: 2017-03
• Subjects: travel behavior -- African American -- racism -- habitus -- vignette technique; Travel -- Research -- Periodicals; Tourism -- Periodicals; Tourism -- Research -- Periodicals; 910.72
• DOI: 10.1177/0047287516643184
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0047-2875

Abstract

This study investigated African Americans' travel behavior using Bourdieu's concept of habitus. In-depth and face-to-face interviews were conducted with 13 middle-class African Americans. Vignette technique was used during the interviews. The study identified four salient themes: (1) racial discrimination during travel, (2) fear of racism, (3) storytelling and safety instructions: social reproduction of the fear of racism, and (4) race-related travel choices. The findings showed that informants' travel behavior was linked to an acute fear of racism. They affirmed that African Americans' travel patterns need to be conceived as a defensive mechanism against potential racial discrimination. Implications for research methods and tourism management are discussed.