Expectations and Experiences of Canadian Nature

These flashcards summarize key vocabulary and concepts from the lecture on Canadian cottage culture, focusing on themes of classism, gender, and colonialism.

Cottage Culture

Symbol of the ideal Canadian summer, often portrayed as carefree, family-centered, and nature-filled.

Universal Access Assumption

The belief that everyone has access to a cottage or participates in cottage life, which is inaccurate as only about 10% of Canadians own second homes.

Ontario-Centrism

The focus on Ontario's cottage experience as the default Canadian summer experience, overshadowing other regional traditions.

Settler Colonialism

A term used to describe how cottage ownership in Ontario is rooted in the dispossession of Indigenous peoples.

Class Privilege

The idea that ownership of cottages is linked to social and economic status, reinforcing classism.

Conspicuous Consumption

A term used to describe the act of displaying wealth through consumption, as exemplified by owning a cottage.

Gendered Experiences

Refers to how men and women experience cottage life differently, often based on traditional gender roles.

Cottage Inheritance

The transfer of family cottages across generations, which can lead to intergenerational tensions and social mobility issues.

Social Nature

A concept that describes how nature is perceived through social constructs and power dynamics.

Imaginary Indian

A stereotyped Indigenous figure created through a European lens that dominates mainstream views of Indigenous people.

Cottage commodification

The way cottages are commercialized, turning them into symbols of status and consumption.

Cottagers vs. Locals

The dynamics and conflicts between seasonal cottagers and year-round local residents.

Environmental Stewardship

The idea that cottagers view themselves as protectors of nature, despite their impact on the ecosystems.

Cultural Imagery in Cottage Life

The depiction of cottages in media and marketing that shapes public perception of ideal summer experiences.

Upscale Emulation

Consumption practices where individuals emulate the wealthy, contributing to widening socio-economic gaps.

Great Gatsby Curve

The graphical representation showing that higher inequality corresponds with lower social mobility.

Social Reproduction

The processes through which social inequalities are perpetuated through family lineage and inheritance.

Colonial Foundations of Cottaging

The historical context in which the idyllic cottage experience is viewed as rooted in colonial dispossession.

Cottage as a Birthright

The belief among some cottagers that owning a cottage is an inherited entitlement.

Racial and Classed Inequality

The ways in which access to cottage ownership is stratified along racial and socio-economic lines.

Queer Representation in Cottaging

How queer identities and narratives intersect with traditional portrayals of cottage life.

Power Dynamics in Leisure Spaces

The mechanisms that determine who participates in leisure activities like cottaging and under what conditions.

Cottage Lifestyle Marketing

The portrayal of cottage living in consumer culture that emphasizes luxury, leisure, and family bonding.

Gendered Labor at the Cottage

A concept that highlights the unequal distribution of domestic and caretaking tasks between genders at cottages.

Cottage COUNTRY as Social Construct

The notion that the identity and experience of cottage life are shaped by social, cultural, and historical narratives.

Indigenous Land Rights

The ongoing claims and struggles of Indigenous peoples regarding stewardship and ownership of ancestral lands.

Public vs. Private Leisure

The debate on whether access to leisure spaces should be a public or private responsibility.

Stratified Access

The unequal distribution of opportunities to engage in leisure activities, including cottaging, shaped by social class.

Emotional Significance of Cottages

How cottages act as sites of family memories, lineage, and social identity, enhancing their sentimental value.

Cottaging during COVID-19

The tensions and conflicts regarding cottage access and use during the pandemic as health and safety concerns escalated.

Community and Gentrification

The impact of seasonal cottagers on local economies, housing, and community identities.

Environmental Impact of Cottaging

The ecological consequences of cottaging practices, such as shoreline erosion and resource depletion.

Accessible Nature

The challenges historically faced by different communities regarding access to natural spaces for leisure.

Cultural Narratives and Nature

The ways in which narratives about nature are influenced by cultural beliefs and social context.

Second Shift

The concept of women performing a disproportionate amount of unpaid domestic labor, including during leisure time.

Generational Differences

The varying attitudes and circumstances of different generations regarding cottage ownership and access.

Downward Social Mobility

The trend where younger generations experience decreased economic mobility compared to their predecessors.

Leisure and Classism

The social inequalities that influence who has the luxury of leisure time and where that leisure takes place.

Counter-Narratives to Cottage Culture

Alternative perspectives that challenge dominant narratives about who enjoys the cottage experience.

Impact of Climate Change

The effects of environmental changes on the traditional cottage experience and long-term sustainability.

Travel Accessibility

The impact of transportation options on who can access and enjoy cottage life.

Cottaging during Economic Inequality

How increasing economic disparities affect access to and perceptions of cottage ownership.

Cottage as an Eco-Conscious Space

The contradiction of viewing cottages as sustainable when they rely on systems harmful to the environment.

Cottaging and Social Change

How current societal trends and issues are reshaping ownership and leisure practices in cottage country.