Is a Self-Catering Holiday with the Family Really a Holiday for Mothers? Examining the Balance of Household Responsibilities While on Holiday from a Female Perspective

The commonly cited definition of what constitutes a holiday is that it is a change from the norm, or an escape from everyday life. But is this the case if tourists are going on a self-catering holiday where many of the tasks from everyday life such as cleaning, minding children and cooking must still be undertaken? This research is specifically interested in the role of mothers, from their own perspective, on such holidays. It explores how household responsibilities are divided between partners when on holiday and questions does this differ from the situation when at home? In so doing this article adds to our understanding about the holiday experience from a 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. HOSP_2.2_Mottiar_197-214.indd 197 10/16/12 8:05:09 AM