Aile Tatillerinde Anne Olmak: Yoğun Annelik İdeolojisi Kapsamında Zihinsel Yükün Tatildeki İzlerinin Belirlenmesi (Being a Mother on Family Vacations: Identifying Traces of Mental Burden on Vacation within the Framework of the Intensive Motherhood Ideology)

Eren GÖNÜL

doi:10.63556/jotags.2026.1837

Authors

Eren GÖNÜL

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.63556/jotags.2026.1837

Keywords:

Intensive mothering, Mental burden, Family holiday experience, Care labor

Abstract

This study aims to examine how family vacations are experienced by mothers and to identify the cognitive, emotional, and organizational processes shaped by intensive mothering ideology and the mental load. Employing a qualitative research design, the study is based on in-depth interviews with 28 mothers who took family vacations in 2025, and the data were analyzed through content analysis. The findings reveal a five-stage cyclical structure characterizing mothers’ vacation experiences: the meaning attributed to the vacation, the cognitive and organizational burden before the trip, the continuity of care labor during the vacation, the transformative role of support and service mechanisms, and the resurgence of domestic responsibilities after returning home. The results demonstrate that family vacations often function less as opportunities for rest and more as contexts in which mental and emotional labor is reproduced. By integrating intensive mothering, mental load, and tourism service design into a cohesive analytical model, the study provides a theoretical contribution to family tourism research and offers practical insights for developing mother-friendly vacation environments.

References

Agate, J. R., Agate, S. T., & Birchler, K. (2015). A vacation within a vacation: children's day programs and parental satisfaction. Tourism Culture & Communication, 15(1), 21-32. https://doi.org/10.3727/109830415X14339495039379

Allen, K. R., & Henderson, A. C. (2022). Family theorizing for social justice: a critical praxis. Journal of Family Theory & Review, 14(3), 364-383. https://doi.org/10.1111/jftr.12450

Anderson, J. (2001). Mothers on family activity holidays overseas. In S. Clough and J. White (Eds.), Women’s leisure experiences: ages, stages and roles (pp. 99-112). Eastbourne: Leisure Studies Association

Atakan, A. G. (2018). Toplumsal cinsiyet eşitliği ve bakım emeği. Celal Bayar Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 16(03), 125-136. https://doi.org/10.18026/cbayarsos.465717

Aymankuy, Y., & Ceylan, U. (2013). Ailelerin turistik ürün satın alma karar sürecinde çocukların rolü (yerli turistler üzerinde bir araştırma). Elektronik Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 12(45), 105-122.

Backer, E. & Schänzel, H. (2013). Family holidays—vacation or obli-cation? Tourism Recreation Research, 38(2),159–173. https://doi.org/10.1080/02508281.2013.11081742

Barlés-Arizón, M. J., Fraj-Andrés, E., & Martínez-Salinas, E. (2013). Family vacation decision making: the role of woman. Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing, 30(8), 873-890. https://doi.org/10.1080/10548408.2013.835681

Bourdieu, P. (2020). Outline of a theory of practice. The New Social Theory Reader (pp. 80-86) içinde. Routledge.

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa

Charmaz, K. (2006). Constructing grounded theory: A practical guide through qualitative analysis. Sage.

Ciciolla, L., & Luthar, S. S. (2019). Invisible household labor and ramifications for adjustment: mothers as captains of households. Sex Roles, 81(7), 467-486. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-017-0743-1.

Civelek, P., & Civelek, M. (2023). Ailelerin tatil planlama süreçlerinde işletme seçimi davranışlarında çocuk dostu turizmin rolü. Nişantaşı Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 11(2), 390-405. https://doi.org/10.52122/nisantasisbd.1347128

Craig, L., & Brown, J. E. (2017). Feeling rushed: gendered time quality, work hours, nonstandard work schedules, and spousal crossover. Journal of Marriage and Family, 79(1), 225-242. https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12320

Çakıcı, C., & İyitoğlu, Ö. G. V. (2012). Tatil kararlarında aile üyelerinin rolü: Antalya ilinde tatil yapan aileler üzerine bir araştırma. Çukurova Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 21(1), 117-134.

Çoban, S. (2023). Bakım rejimleri ve Türkiye’de bakım emeği. Hacettepe Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi Dergisi, 40(2), 455-465. https://doi.org/10.32600/huefd.1228210

Daminger, A. (2019). The cognitive dimension of household labor. American Sociological Review, 84(4), 609–633. https://doi.org/10.1177/0003122419859007

Davidson, P. (1996). The holiday and work experiences of women with young children. Leisure Studies, 15(2), 89–103. https://doi.org/10.1080/026143696375648

Dedeoğlu, S. (2000). Toplumsal cinsiyet rolleri açısından Türkiye’de aile ve kadın emeği. Toplum ve Bilim, 86(3), 139-170.

Demirbulat, Ö. G., Saatcı, G., & Avcıkurt, C. Tatilin aile içi davranışlar üzerindeki etkisinin demografik değişkenler açısından incelenmesi: Doğu Karadeniz Bölgesi’nde bir araştırma. Seyahat ve Otel İşletmeciliği Dergisi, 12(2).

Faircloth, C., Hoffman, D. M., & Layne, L. L. (2013). Parenting in global perspective. Routledge.

Gauthier, A. H., Bryson, C., Fadel, L., Haux, T., Koops, J., & Mynarska, M. (2021). Exploring the concept of intensive parenting in a three-country study. Demographic Research, 44, 333-348. https://doi.org/ 10.4054/DemRes.2021.44.13

Gilbert, D., & Abdullah, J. (2004). Holidaytaking and the sense of well-being. Annals of Tourism Research, 31(1), 103–121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2003.06.001

Gram, M. (2005). Family holidays: a qualitative analysis of family holiday experiences. Scandinavian Journal of Hospitality and Tourism, 5(1), 2–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/15022250510014255

Guest, G., Bunce, A., & Johnson, L. (2006). How many interviews are enough? an experiment with data saturation and variability. Field methods, 18(1), 59-82. https://doi.org/10.1177/1525822X05279903

Hašková, H., & Dudová, R. (2025). Intensive mothering—different repertoires, same goal. Journal of Family Studies, 1-28. https://doi.org/10.1080/13229400.2025.2487004

Hays, S. (1996). The cultural contradictions of motherhood. Yale University Press.

Israel, M., & Hay, I. (2006). Research ethics for social scientists. Sage.

Krstić, A., Shen, W., Varty, C. T., Lam, J. Y., & Hideg, I. (2025). Taking on the invisible third shift: the unequal division of cognitive labor and women’s work outcomes. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 49(2), 205-219. https://doi.org/10.1177/03616843251330284

Kvale, S., & Brinkmann, S. (2009). InterViews: learning the craft of qualitative research interviewing. Sage.

Lareau, A. (2018). Unequal childhoods: Class, race, and family life. Inequality in the 21st Century (pp. 444-451) içinde. Routledge.

LaPan, C., & Sadler, J. (2025). Black women’s travel: intersectionality and representation in American film. Tourist Studies, 25(1), 6-24. https://doi.org/10.1177/14687976241302784

Li, Z. Z., Yang, Y., & Zhang, X. (2024). Family travel as an educational experience: revealing multi-level parents' perceived value through a family systems approach. Tourism Management Perspectives, 53, 101301. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2024.101301

Lincoln, Y. S., & Guba, E. G. (1985). Naturalistic inquiry. Sage.

Lugosi, P., Robinson, R. N., Golubovskaya, M., & Foley, L. (2016). The hospitality consumption experiences of parents and carers with children: a qualitative study of foodservice settings. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 54, 84-94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2016.01.012

Merriam, S. B. (2009). Qualitative research: A guide to design and implementation. Jossey-Bass.

Mottiar, Z., & Quinn, D. (2012). 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. Hospitality & Society, 2(2), 197-214. https://doi.org/10.1386/hosp.2.2.197_1

Naudé-Potgieter, R. (2026). More than a getaway: unpacking the motivations and quality of life of South African mothers on family vacations. In Handbook on Children and Family Tourism (pp. 155-172). Edward Elgar Publishing.

Nickerson, N. P., & Jurowski, C. (2001). The influence of children on vacation travel patterns. Journal of Vacation Marketing, 7(1), 19–30. https://doi.org/10.1177/135676670100700102

Noy, C. (2008). Sampling knowledge: The hermeneutics of snowball sampling in qualitative research. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 11(4), 327–344. https://doi.org/10.1080/13645570701401305

Reich-Stiebert, N., Froehlich, L., & Voltmer, J. B. (2023). Gendered mental labor: A systematic literature review on the cognitive dimension of unpaid work within the household and childcare. Sex Roles, 88(11), 475-494. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-023-01362-0

Schänzel, H. A., & Smith, K. A. (2014). The socialization of families away from home: group dynamics and family functioning on holiday. Leisure Sciences, 36(2), 126-143. https://doi.org/10.1080/01490400.2013.857624

Schänzel, H. A., & Lynch, P. A. (2016). Family perspectives on social hospitality dimensions while on holiday. Tourist Studies, 16(2), 133-150. https://doi.org/10.1177/1468797615594742

Schreier, M. (2012). Qualitative content analysis in practice. Sage.

Shaw, S. (2008). Family leisure and changing ideologies of parenthood. Sociology Compass, 2(2), 688–703. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-9020.2007.00076.x

Small, J. (2005). Women’s holidays: Disruption of the motherhood myth. Tourism Review International. 9 (2), 139. https:// doi.org/10.3727/154427205774791645

Strauss, A., & Corbin, J. (1990). Basics of qualitative research. Sage.

Therkelsen, A. (2010). Deciding on family holidays—Role distribution and strategies in use. Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing, 27(8), 765-779. https://doi.org/10.1080/10548408.2010.526895

Vespestad, M. K. (2023). Babymoon tourism: Co-creating well-being for traveling mothers. Journal of Travel Research, 62(6), 1277-1289. https://doi.org/10.1177/004728752211256

Weeks, A. C. (2025). The political consequences of the mental load. European Sociological Review, xx, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1093/esr/jcaf019

Yemez, İ., & Karaca, Ş. (2019). Çocuklu ailelerin tatil yeri seçiminde etkili olan faktörlerin incelenmesi: Sivas ili şehir merkezinde bir uygulama. Avrasya Uluslararası Araştırmalar Dergisi, 7(19), 201-225.