Session Title

Session 2-2-B: Generations of Gamblers

Presentation Type

Event

Location

The Mirage Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada

Start Date

8-6-2016 10:30 AM

End Date

8-6-2016 12:00 PM

Disciplines

Social History

Abstract

The presentation focuses on the concepts of class, gender and especially intersectionality in the field of gambling studies. Whereas class and gender are widely used and acknowledged concepts within the field intersectionality has not yet received wider attention by scholars of gambling. Intersectionality is understood as a theoretical framework which helps to analyse how people are divided into political, social and economic classes depending on their gender, class position, age, residence, ethnicity, sexual orientation etc. The methodology originated in the feminist studies in the 1980s but my own understanding has been mostly influenced by the work of sociologist Beverley Skeggs.

Theoretical discussion is followed by examples of interviews conducted with 36 representatives of Finnish baby boomer generation (born between 1945 and 1955) with special attention paid to their gambling careers from the point of view of class, gender and intersectionality. This generation is of interest because they have experienced major changes in the Finnish society and lifestyle during their lifespan (urbanization, gentrification, birth of a mass consumption society, a more equal and liberal society and lifestyle) and these changes also coincide with shifts in the Finnish gambling culture.

The presentation is based on a joint project conducted with MA (Soc.Sci.) Maria Heiskanen from the University of Helsinki and is funded by the Finnish Foundation for Alcohol Studies.

Keywords

Gambling, History of gambling, Class, Gender, Intersectionality, Finland, Gambling culture, Baby boomers, Gambling studies, Methodology

Comments

Attachment: PDF containing 15 slides

Share

COinS
 
Jun 8th, 10:30 AM Jun 8th, 12:00 PM

Class, Gender, Intersectionality: Gambling Experiences of the Finnish Baby Boomers of the 1940s and Early 1950s

The Mirage Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada

The presentation focuses on the concepts of class, gender and especially intersectionality in the field of gambling studies. Whereas class and gender are widely used and acknowledged concepts within the field intersectionality has not yet received wider attention by scholars of gambling. Intersectionality is understood as a theoretical framework which helps to analyse how people are divided into political, social and economic classes depending on their gender, class position, age, residence, ethnicity, sexual orientation etc. The methodology originated in the feminist studies in the 1980s but my own understanding has been mostly influenced by the work of sociologist Beverley Skeggs.

Theoretical discussion is followed by examples of interviews conducted with 36 representatives of Finnish baby boomer generation (born between 1945 and 1955) with special attention paid to their gambling careers from the point of view of class, gender and intersectionality. This generation is of interest because they have experienced major changes in the Finnish society and lifestyle during their lifespan (urbanization, gentrification, birth of a mass consumption society, a more equal and liberal society and lifestyle) and these changes also coincide with shifts in the Finnish gambling culture.

The presentation is based on a joint project conducted with MA (Soc.Sci.) Maria Heiskanen from the University of Helsinki and is funded by the Finnish Foundation for Alcohol Studies.