Abstract
This paper uses Bernstein’s concept of ‘bounded authenticity’ (2007) to explore the benefits, pleasures and harms of seeking to consume managed ‘authentic’ experiences. This work brings together the respective interests of the authors, in sex work and tourism, by focusing on two case studies: (1) transactional intimacy and (2) slum tourism. We situate our discussion in the context of Raymen’s 2018 paper, which explores how both liberal individualism and the absence of a unified normative framework have impeded a collective definition of ‘social harm’ and ‘the good’.
Our analysis of both practices of transactional intimacy and slum tourism indicate that the benefits accrue mainly to the consumer. From a liberal individualist and economic perspective, those involved in selling authenticity may also be empowered financially and personally. However, we argue that consuming authenticity too often relies on, and reproduces, existing inequalities, either within the transaction space or by displacement.
Our analysis of both practices of transactional intimacy and slum tourism indicate that the benefits accrue mainly to the consumer. From a liberal individualist and economic perspective, those involved in selling authenticity may also be empowered financially and personally. However, we argue that consuming authenticity too often relies on, and reproduces, existing inequalities, either within the transaction space or by displacement.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 103-124 |
| Journal | Justice, Power and Resistance |
| Volume | 3 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Early online date | 1 Dec 2019 |
| Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 1 Dec 2019 |
Research Groups and Themes
- SPS Centre for Gender and Violence Research
- Transactional intimacy
- Slum tourism
- Authenticity
- Harm
- Consumption
Keywords
- consumption
- bounded authenticity
- transactional intimacy
- slum tourism
- harm
Access to Document
- Full-text PDF (accepted author manuscript)
This is the author accepted manuscript (AAM). The final published version (version of record) is available online via EG Press at https://egpress.org/papers/consuming-authenticity-pleasure-benefit-and-harm-%E2%80%98transactional-intimacy%E2%80%99-and-%E2%80%98slum-tourism . Please refer to any applicable terms of use of the publisher.
