‘Both are equal, which is awesome’: exploring gendered discourses of Canadian summer camp experiences

ABSTRACT

This study discusses gendered discourses of summer residential camp experiences and, in particular, the gendered roles performed by camp counsellors. By drawing on feminist poststructuralist concepts, this article considers how gender power-relations operate and how camp counsellors perform gender within camps. We start by considering the history of gender in early camp movements and recent research literature on camps. Interview participants revealed the iteration and reiteration of stereotypic gender norms within camp contexts. The findings suggest that participants found both empowerment and challenge in the assumed genderlessness, or gender neutrality, of camp experiences. Findings also suggest that women counsellors are assumed to do disproportionate amount of care work. The article concludes by considering opportunities for positive youth development when gendered norms are critically considered, resisted and/or transformed within camp contexts.

KEYWORDS:

• Summer camp
• gender performativity
• care work
• youth employment
• feminist poststructuralism

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 How non-binary people might engage with or mobilize such discourses is not within the data for us to comment on but suggests a topic very worthy of future research.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mandi Baker

Mandi Baker is a Research Fellow and Lecturer whose research considers the emotion work, Affective Abilities, and power-relations of employees in people-centric service work, specifically in camps, outdoor education and hotels.

John Hannant-Minchel

John Hannant-Minchel is a MA candidate whose research applies intersectional approaches to understandings of employee experiences in delivering outdoor leisure.