The Conflict of Social Role and Self-Development in Different Female Backpacker Generations

• Main Authors: WEI, CHUN-CHIEH, 魏君潔
• Other Authors: LIU, HUA-TSUNG
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2017
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/43906744956338054092

碩士 === 南華大學 === 國際事務與企業學系亞太研究碩士班 === 105 === 　　The study aims at exploring the issue of whether there exists any difference in generation or social role among female backpackers in terms of the difficulties they encounter and the rewards they obtain before and after departure. The researcher adopted the qualitative methodology of literature analysis and semi-structural interview. Participants in the present study were composed of ten interviewees from three generations and were invited to participate in in-depth interview. The findings of the present study are divided into three parts: 　　In the first part, the researcher focuses on the generational difference among backpackers based on three factors: economics, education, and politics/culture, in their growing environment. It is found that economics and politics/culture play more dominant roles than education level does in backpacking. In addition, compared with education level, government policy formulation, domestic economical standard and advances in Internet technology exert more decisive influence on how difficult it is to engage in backpacking. 　　The second part of the finding explores the relationship between females of different generations involved in backpacking and their social roles. From the four perspectives of role perception, role expectation, role norm and role learning, the differences result from the factors of generation, interviewee’s marital status, and family life cycle, each mutually influencing the others. The roles in family and workplace are the center of universe for the females among the three generations. Nevertheless, females from different generations exhibit various self-requirement in the definition and function of these roles. In this context, we proceed towards the perspective of role conflict; the burden of altruism derived from the female’s family and workplace declines with age. It definitely affects directly or indirectly the obstacles that they encounter when they go backpacking, and how they deal with the tension between the backpacking and the role they play. 　　In the third part of the finding, from six aspects, the researcher intends to clarify whether there exists any generational difference in self-development and personal benefit which are accompanied by backpacking. To begin with, most interviewees hold positive attitude towards their self-development in the six aspects, and agree that these benefits are acquired through backpacking. Next, the present study also concludes that generational difference is more readily observed in interpersonal relationship extension, philosophy of life, and personal ability. On the other hand, self-awareness and emotion adjustment are respectively linked to the nurturing way and atmosphere of one’s original family and the identity awareness of whether she holds a job at a workplace. Lastly, the sixth aspect of personality transformation suggests that it is rare for an over-fifty-year-old interviewee from senior generation, as a female, to have been so experienced in backpacking.