Paper short abstract:

Drawing from critical race and feminist theories, this paper examines the relationship between racialized power and diaspora tourism. Specifically, if focuses on questions of race, gender, “home” and “belonging”, to explore the effects of diaspora tourism on second-generation Indo-Canadians.

Paper long abstract:

Second-generation Indo-Canadians are increasingly travelling to their ancestral 'homelands' to learn about their roots. This type of travel, known as "diaspora tourism", is a compelling site for examining questions of race, gender, mobility, and multiculturalism. In fact, this type of travel gives rise to several pressing questions regarding how racialized and gendered identities are experienced in particular spaces, and on socio-economic power relations within globalization. Yet, little is known about the diaspora tourism experiences of Indo-Canadians. For instance, what are their motivations? How might a sense of self and/or culture be generated for them through the trip to India? How does the trip impact their notions of home and belonging? How do they see themselves in relation to the people and places they are visiting? How do they negotiate their insider/outsider positioning in India and in Canada?

In keeping with the "shaping lives" sub theme of the conference, this paper will draw upon my in-progress research to consider some of these questions. Some of my preliminary findings indicate that for many second generation Indo-Canadians, traveling to India is fraught because on the one hand, they are regarded as "locals" by other western tourists, and on the other hand, they are treated as "western tourists" by the locals. Further compounding this contradictory experience are their deep emotional investments in using the trip to learn about their ancestral and cultural roots. In sum, by considering the complexities of diaspora tourism this paper seeks to further understanding on transnational, multicultural, and hybrid/hyphenated identities.