CONCLUSIONS
Each of the four tourism themes discussed in this paper is a factor in
the characterization of the authenticity of souvenirs purchased by the
informants. These themes support the conclusions of Littrell et al
(1993) that authenticity derives from uniqueness, workmanship, aesthetics,
use, cultural integrity, craftsperson, shopping experience, and
genuineness.
This study shows that differences exist in souvenir purchases and
authenticity for EA and MA women. Many women in EA shopped in
malls with their children and made unplanned souvenir purchases, for
themselves and their children, that represented places or events and
that were locally grown or produced. Many women in MA preferred
specialty shops and seasonal tourists shops, shopped more frequently
with friends or husbands, were more likely to make planned purchases
of high quality, mostly for personal satisfaction, and preferred observing
artisans.
The informants displayed complex characteristics that collectively
were not restricted to either the liberal or the cultural ideological extreme.
On the ideological continuum, most of the women exhibited
characteristics of both gender ideologies. Both EA and MA women
typically showed more liberal and fewer cultural attributes.
All the women of this study were similar to the liberal extreme in
that they held jobs or professional careers, were used to having their
own money, were well-educated and well-informed, had traveled
widely, and possessed a world view that included the importance of
personal interactions with other cultures as vital to their understanding
of and tolerance for others’ viewpoints, values, beliefs, and ways of
doing things. Some of the women were also liberal in that they planned
their own travel, sometimes business-related, sometimes familyrelated,
and purchased more souvenirs for themselves than for others.
Some women were similar to the cultural ideological extreme in that
they married, had children, maintained strong family ties, deferred
trip plans to others, and purchased mostly souvenirs to give as gifts.
346 SOUVENIR-PURCHASE BEHAVIOR
Collectively these women occupy an intermediate position in the ideological
spectrum, and show great diversity in their ages, work and
travel experiences, family status, incomes, and other characteristics.
Because they travel extensively, they may be representative of women
who account for a significant amount of all tourist purchases.
Because the women in this study occupied positions throughout the
ideological spectrum from cultural to liberal extremes, and because
most women in this study desired authenticity in their purchases, no
relationship appears to exist between either ideological extreme and
the desire for authenticity. Extreme gender ideologies are not useful
for characterizing and understanding souvenir purchase behaviors and
desire for authenticity in this small sample of Euro-American women
living in Iowa. These women were homogenous in being highly educated
and having a desire for and experience in travel. Further study is
needed to determine if these two factors influence the preference for
and expression of gender ideology.
In the present study no evidence of marked masculine hegemony
emerged. The women who met this study’s criteria were pleased with
their public and personal lives, and were sufficiently self-assured to
share details of their lives during extensive interviews. Many were the
primary planners of their trips, most were the primary purchasers of
souvenirs in their families, and most were highly educated. It is also
possible that the influence of travel experiences, especially observation
of foreign cultures, may cause women travelers to assimilate characteristics
of both gender ideologies and thus move them toward the middle
of the ideology continuum.
Therefore, the women of this study had many routine and travel
experiences in which they were the decision-makers. This might help
to explain the apparently low level of male hegemony in this research
sample. The conclusions of this study are valid for the informants’
travel experiences. However, the limited number of informants could
restrict the general applicability of the findings. Other approaches or
theoretical frameworks could yield additional conclusions. But still, on
the basis of this study, some implications and suggestions for further
study can be generated.
MA women in this study spend more on souvenirs and prefer specialty
shops and interactions with artisans. If this observation is generally
true for the entire population, then proprietors of specialty shops
might choose to target this group with special ads, window and sidewalk
displays, frequent demonstrations by artisans, and authentic souvenirs
that would appeal to women in MA.
A tourist area is usually characterized by a high degree of retail
concentration and saturation of available souvenirs. Retailers in malls
and other areas typically frequented by women in EA might compensate
for the greater price competition in their setting by offering some
of the unique souvenirs that are desired for authenticity by these
women. Another implication is that retailers should develop promotional
messages and price lines that differentiate their stores from other
similar stores. These messages may appeal to people who plan purchases
based on previous knowledge of the tourist area as well as to the
spontaneous purchaser. As part of a promotional plan, such retailers
ANDERSON AND LITTRELL 347
may be interested in being included in the itineraries of tour buses.
Because women in MA often shopped with their husbands, retailers
should target the willingness of husbands or boyfriends to purchase
expensive items as special souvenirs for their wives or girlfriends. A
study of purchasing partners should discover their influence on the
search for authenticity in souvenirs purchased, and on the amounts
spent on souvenirs for self, spouse, children, and others.
Authenticity of local products is important to women of both EA
and MA within the spectrum of gender ideologies. Retailers should be
mindful that tourists frequently desire to purchase products, especially
from other areas and cultures, that reflect their shopping experiences
such as observations of artisans; interactions with shopkeepers; traditions
of the destination that would serve as remembrances; symbols of
their cultural heritage; and being on first trips.
The limited number of informants in this study and their cultural
homogeneity suggest that similar studies should be conducted to explore
the effects of differences in race, ethnicity, class, and gender on
souvenir purchases and authenticity. Additionally, a study of women
who express a cultural ideology and women who identify with liberal
ideology should investigate if shopping habits, purchases, and desire
for authenticity of these extreme groups differ from those in the present
study. III El
Ackno&&tmfs-‘This study is part of a PhD dissertation presented to Iowa State
University by the senior author under the direction of the second author. Thanks for
assistance are due to Dr. Mary Lynn Damhorst and Dr. Geitel Winakor, members of
the dissertation committee.
CONCLUSIONS
Each of the four tourism themes discussed in this paper is a factor in
the characterization of the authenticity of souvenirs purchased by the
informants. These themes support the conclusions of Littrell et al
(1993) that authenticity derives from uniqueness, workmanship, aesthetics,
use, cultural integrity, craftsperson, shopping experience, and
genuineness.
This study shows that differences exist in souvenir purchases and
authenticity for EA and MA women. Many women in EA shopped in
malls with their children and made unplanned souvenir purchases, for
themselves and their children, that represented places or events and
that were locally grown or produced. Many women in MA preferred
specialty shops and seasonal tourists shops, shopped more frequently
with friends or husbands, were more likely to make planned purchases
of high quality, mostly for personal satisfaction, and preferred observing
artisans.
The informants displayed complex characteristics that collectively
were not restricted to either the liberal or the cultural ideological extreme.
On the ideological continuum, most of the women exhibited
characteristics of both gender ideologies. Both EA and MA women
typically showed more liberal and fewer cultural attributes.
All the women of this study were similar to the liberal extreme in
that they held jobs or professional careers, were used to having their
own money, were well-educated and well-informed, had traveled
widely, and possessed a world view that included the importance of
personal interactions with other cultures as vital to their understanding
of and tolerance for others’ viewpoints, values, beliefs, and ways of
doing things. Some of the women were also liberal in that they planned
their own travel, sometimes business-related, sometimes familyrelated,
and purchased more souvenirs for themselves than for others.
Some women were similar to the cultural ideological extreme in that
they married, had children, maintained strong family ties, deferred
trip plans to others, and purchased mostly souvenirs to give as gifts.
346 SOUVENIR-PURCHASE BEHAVIOR
Collectively these women occupy an intermediate position in the ideological
spectrum, and show great diversity in their ages, work and
travel experiences, family status, incomes, and other characteristics.
Because they travel extensively, they may be representative of women
who account for a significant amount of all tourist purchases.
Because the women in this study occupied positions throughout the
ideological spectrum from cultural to liberal extremes, and because
most women in this study desired authenticity in their purchases, no
relationship appears to exist between either ideological extreme and
the desire for authenticity. Extreme gender ideologies are not useful
for characterizing and understanding souvenir purchase behaviors and
desire for authenticity in this small sample of Euro-American women
living in Iowa. These women were homogenous in being highly educated
and having a desire for and experience in travel. Further study is
needed to determine if these two factors influence the preference for
and expression of gender ideology.
In the present study no evidence of marked masculine hegemony
emerged. The women who met this study’s criteria were pleased with
their public and personal lives, and were sufficiently self-assured to
share details of their lives during extensive interviews. Many were the
primary planners of their trips, most were the primary purchasers of
souvenirs in their families, and most were highly educated. It is also
possible that the influence of travel experiences, especially observation
of foreign cultures, may cause women travelers to assimilate characteristics
of both gender ideologies and thus move them toward the middle
of the ideology continuum.
Therefore, the women of this study had many routine and travel
experiences in which they were the decision-makers. This might help
to explain the apparently low level of male hegemony in this research
sample. The conclusions of this study are valid for the informants’
travel experiences. However, the limited number of informants could
restrict the general applicability of the findings. Other approaches or
theoretical frameworks could yield additional conclusions. But still, on
the basis of this study, some implications and suggestions for further
study can be generated.
MA women in this study spend more on souvenirs and prefer specialty
shops and interactions with artisans. If this observation is generally
true for the entire population, then proprietors of specialty shops
might choose to target this group with special ads, window and sidewalk
displays, frequent demonstrations by artisans, and authentic souvenirs
that would appeal to women in MA.
A tourist area is usually characterized by a high degree of retail
concentration and saturation of available souvenirs. Retailers in malls
and other areas typically frequented by women in EA might compensate
for the greater price competition in their setting by offering some
of the unique souvenirs that are desired for authenticity by these
women. Another implication is that retailers should develop promotional
messages and price lines that differentiate their stores from other
similar stores. These messages may appeal to people who plan purchases
based on previous knowledge of the tourist area as well as to the
spontaneous purchaser. As part of a promotional plan, such retailers
ANDERSON AND LITTRELL 347
may be interested in being included in the itineraries of tour buses.
Because women in MA often shopped with their husbands, retailers
should target the willingness of husbands or boyfriends to purchase
expensive items as special souvenirs for their wives or girlfriends. A
study of purchasing partners should discover their influence on the
search for authenticity in souvenirs purchased, and on the amounts
spent on souvenirs for self, spouse, children, and others.
Authenticity of local products is important to women of both EA
and MA within the spectrum of gender ideologies. Retailers should be
mindful that tourists frequently desire to purchase products, especially
from other areas and cultures, that reflect their shopping experiences
such as observations of artisans; interactions with shopkeepers; traditions
of the destination that would serve as remembrances; symbols of
their cultural heritage; and being on first trips.
The limited number of informants in this study and their cultural
homogeneity suggest that similar studies should be conducted to explore
the effects of differences in race, ethnicity, class, and gender on
souvenir purchases and authenticity. Additionally, a study of women
who express a cultural ideology and women who identify with liberal
ideology should investigate if shopping habits, purchases, and desire
for authenticity of these extreme groups differ from those in the present
study. III El
Ackno&&tmfs-‘This study is part of a PhD dissertation presented to Iowa State
University by the senior author under the direction of the second author. Thanks for
assistance are due to Dr. Mary Lynn Damhorst and Dr. Geitel Winakor, members of
the dissertation committee.
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