Presenter(s): Hannah Kloft
Faculty Mentor(s): Troy Elias & Deborah Morrison
Poster 91
Session: Social Sciences & Humanities
Appearing on postcards, maps, and murals, the Great Outdoors has served as an archetype for both the geography and culture of the United States for decades. With more than 58 national parks and 109 million acres of wilderness area, the utilization of these spaces by a wide range of Americans seems likely. In reality, although 2017 was the second highest year for national park visitation in American history, 80 percent of visitors were white. In this study, a content analysis of more than 1,000 magazine advertisements aimed to advance a study performed two decades ago to gauge if representation of recreational use of outdoor spaces among minorities has increased. In addition, the concept of “racialized outdoor leisure identity” was analyzed to determine the kinds of activities minorities were depicted participating in within the Great Outdoors.