A phenomenological study of place attachment to food spaces: Expatriates and eateries in Dubai

IF 6.5 1区经济学 Q1 DEVELOPMENT STUDIES

Habitat International Pub Date : 2025-04-11 DOI:10.1016/j.habitatint.2025.103399

Gopika Balakrishnan, Sahera Bleibleh

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

The preservation of native food habits among Indian expatriates in Al Karama, Dubai, reflects a deep sense of place attachment, blending cultural continuity and spatiality in the context of migration. This study investigates how expatriates' place attachment from place of origin is expressed and experienced in place of residence, through exploring the case of Indian eateries in Al Karama fostering connections to expatriates' place of origin; and expanding to other expatriates' experiences and expressions around food spaces. By employing a phenomenological qualitative approach, including interviews with eatery visitors (50 visitors) and eatery owners (50 owners), photographic documentation, observations, and spatial analysis, conducted from 2022 to 2023, this research explores Indian expatriates' lived experiences and expressions of ‘home’, i.e., their place of origin, in their current place of residence, through the Indian eateries in Al Karama and examines whether and how these eateries built place attachment to place of origin or as an attempt to recreate such attachment in the place of residence. The findings reveal that Indian eateries function as practical expressions of place attachment, enabling Indian expatriates to experience cultural ties and emotional connection to their place of origin. The eateries are found to be significant places that offer more than just Indian food, functioning as places of identity, belonging, and social interaction for the Indian expatriate community living in Dubai through providing multitude experiences. Focusing on Indian expatriates and the Al Karama neighborhood, the findings highlight key dynamics of place attachment and spatial behavior trends that contribute to a broader understanding of place attachment among the Indian expatriate community in Dubai. Al Karama being a representative case of place attachment specific to Indian expatriates in Dubai, other areas such as Al Satwa, Al Rigga and Deira showcases examples of place attachment expression through food spaces among other experiences of shopping and cultural gatherings.

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关于对美食空间的地方依恋的现象学研究：迪拜的外籍人士和餐馆

迪拜卡拉马的印度外籍人士保留了当地的饮食习惯，这反映了他们对地方的深深眷恋，在移民背景下融合了文化的连续性和空间性。本研究通过探究 Al Karama 的印度餐馆与外籍人士原籍地的联系，并扩展到其他外籍人士围绕饮食空间的体验和表达，研究外籍人士对原籍地的地方依恋如何在居住地得到表达和体验。本研究采用现象学定性方法，包括对食肆访客（50 名访客）和食肆业主（50 名业主）的访谈、照片记录、观察和空间分析，于 2022 年至 2023 年进行，通过 Al Karama 的印度食肆，探讨印度外籍人士在当前居住地的生活体验和对 "家"（即其原籍地）的表达，并研究这些食肆是否以及如何建立对原籍地的依恋，或试图在居住地重新建立这种依恋。研究结果表明，印度餐馆是地方依恋的实际表现形式，使印度外籍人士体验到与原籍地的文化联系和情感联系。研究发现，印度餐馆不仅是提供印度美食的重要场所，还通过提供多种体验，成为居住在迪拜的印度侨民群体的身份认同、归属和社会交往场所。以印度侨民和 Al Karama 社区为重点，研究结果强调了场所依恋的关键动态和空间行为趋势，有助于更广泛地了解迪拜印度侨民社区的场所依恋。Al Karama 是迪拜印度侨民对地方依恋的一个代表性案例，其他地区如 Al Satwa、Al Rigga 和 Deira 则通过美食空间以及其他购物和文化聚会体验，展示了地方依恋的表现形式。

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来源期刊

Habitat International Multiple-

CiteScore

10.50

自引率

10.30%

发文量

151

审稿时长

38 days

期刊介绍： Habitat International is dedicated to the study of urban and rural human settlements: their planning, design, production and management. Its main focus is on urbanisation in its broadest sense in the developing world. However, increasingly the interrelationships and linkages between cities and towns in the developing and developed worlds are becoming apparent and solutions to the problems that result are urgently required. The economic, social, technological and political systems of the world are intertwined and changes in one region almost always affect other regions.