Chapter 2 Theoretical Framework
2.5 Theoretical Synthesis
The above discussion has highlighted four theoretical perspectives through which gendered spaces can be analysed: institutional roles, social performance, the gaze, and liminality. These lenses will be used in this thesis as a way to investigate the day-to-day use of leisure spaces in malls and seafronts. The lenses will look in depth into the way in which institutional management control the physical and socio-cultural construction of the quasi-public spaces, and the reactions of different genders. It will study the performances of different genders in different leisure spaces and how different managers’ approaches influence it, and consider the way in which the gaze – both male and female – shapes management and social performance. The concept of liminality provides the critical link to spatial expression.
35 The following diagram (Figure 2-3) shows how these lenses are linked.
2.5.1 Institutional Roles in Gendering Space
The literature suggests that globalisation and economic advancement have increased the influence and control of particular institutions in the socio-cultural construction of leisure spaces at different levels: national, regional/local and micro. The privatisation of public spaces has also allowed for the occurrence of the phenomenon of dis-embedding and re-embedding practices. This phenomenon is driven by globalised institutions sometimes and can lead to ignoring and compromising the local culture. Saudi Arabia has witnessed similar situations where leisure spaces and activities have shifted from public spaces to semi-public spaces, which are privately owned such as malls and amusement parks. The shift to indoor semi-public spaces (private spaces) has increased the role and control of institutions in shaping and influencing the socio-cultural construction of the leisure spaces.
The thesis will focus in particular upon the investigation of the institutional role of mall management and how it influences the rules of gendering.
2.5.2 Social Performance
Goffman’s theatrical metaphor where he uses the concept of front stage and backstage to analyse the relationship between performance and life, provides a basis for this thesis to investigate social performance in leisure spaces in Saudi Arabia. Public spheres such as leisure spaces will be considered as front stage where individuals present their performances for other people who are observing. The performances of different genders will be investigated in a range of spaces that are under different management approaches and in different types of leisure spaces. Goffman’s concept of the ‘personal front’ could also provide a valuable insight into the influence of the ‘personal front’ on the management and gatekeepers’ (security guards) decisions in managing access to their premises; and to determine if there are any other contributing factors and to predetermine the desired visitors who would be welcome and the undesired visitors who should be denied access to the space.
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2.5.3 Gazing
The literature argues that gazing in gendered spaces is a strong influence on performances and individuals’ emotions (Scraton & Watson, 2010). The thesis will interrogate and analyse the influence of gazing on visitors’ performances both male and female. It will investigate the phenomena of reappearance of the
flâneur in the new modern spaces in Saudi Arabia where gazing is widely practised.
2.5.4 Liminality
The thesis will argue that malls and other leisure spaces (seafronts) in Saudi Arabia have emerged as liminal spaces by re-embedding practices and activities from globalised societies. These liminal spaces provide the population with hybrid spaces that both express modern culture and apply rules of gender segregation. Shields’ (1989) method of analysis will be utilised to investigate liminality in Saudi malls and to explore if liminality in a strict society (Saudi society) could result in a greater impact on shaping and reconstructing the gender relations and the performances of visitors to the space. The thesis will argue that the liminality of malls and outdoor leisure spaces is an essential transitional phase in re-embedding modern types of spaces and activities into a conservative society.
2.5.5 Terminology
In this thesis, ‘modern’ and ‘traditional’ terms are used to describe artefacts such as the design and layout of space. ‘Permissive’ and ‘strict’ are used to describe the institutional style of managing and gendering the space. ‘Liberal’ and ‘conservative’ are used to describe values, behaviours, and performances of visitors (Figure 2-4). In the Saudi context, the term modern )رضحتم( is usually used as a positive term to describe the adoption of contemporary design or technology. However, liberal )ررحتم( is associated with negative terminology; it is used to describe a person who is abandoning his/her local culture and values and adopting ideas and values from Western society (ناسيمرلا, 2009). The use of
these terms in the research does not refer to any negative or positive connotations (see Figure 2-4).
Figure 2-4. Space, management, and performance model
Having set out the theoretical basis for the thesis, the next chapter describes the methods used and their justification.
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Chapter 3 Methodology
3.1 Introduction
This chapter describes the research methodology and the process that was used to answer the research questions. The strategy that has been adopted is an interpretive qualitative approach applied to two comparative case studies. The chapter commences with a brief account of the relevance of qualitative methods for leisure spaces and landscapes, and provides the rationale for employing a ‘mixed methods’ approach. The rationale for using a case study design is then discussed, and the cases briefly introduced. I also explain how I used pilot studies in New Zealand and Saudi Arabia to test the methods and to help select case study locations prior to going into the field. The details of the qualitative methods used in this research are then provided, comprising of: documentary analysis, participant observation and interviews of professional key informants and focus groups of female visitors to leisure spaces. The chapter ends with a discussion on the methodological limitations and the ethical considerations.