An Investigation into How Helpers Ascribe Meanings to the Phenomenon of Work – Accommodation Exchange

Abstract

Offering (or receiving) work in exchange for free accommodation is a service that we have in tourism industry today and it has become a worldwide phenomenon. In such exchanges, helpers come to the hosts’ home and are expected to contribute a pre-agreed amount of time per day (most often four to five hours of work a day) in exchange for lodging and food, which is provided by the hosts. This master thesis is aiming to find out how helpers ascribe meanings in such work-accommodation exchange. In the history of the itinerant travelling, there are multiple forms of itinerant travelling can be seen as antecedents to the phenomenon of work-accommodation exchange today. Thus, this master thesis went through many literatures of itinerant travelling forms in the history to analogize the cultural and social dimensions of work-accommodation exchange. Seven former helpers with different background have selected to be interviewed. This master thesis touches on the characteristics of the helpers, the work element, leisure, vulnerability, post work-accommodation exchange experiences, antecedents and new trends in this phenomenon.