Politics and Culture of Home Sharing
Download as PPTX, PDF1 like571 views
Dr. Leanna Wolfe discusses the culture and politics of home sharing, particularly through platforms like Airbnb, highlighting its historical roots and its impact on both hosts and guests. The document covers various anthropological perspectives on home sharing, the unique experience it offers compared to traditional lodging, and the economic implications it has on local neighborhoods. Additionally, it addresses the challenges and opportunities presented by this sharing economy model in promoting positive interactions across diverse communities.
Politics and Culture of Home Sharing
- 1. Politics and Culture of Home Sharing Leanna Wolfe, PhD November 12-14, 2015 Airbnb Open Paris, France
- 2. About Dr. Leanna • MA Anthropology, New School for Social Research • PHD Sexology, Instititute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality • Writer, Photographer, World Traveler • Airbnb Host beginning 2010 • Lives in Los Angeles, California • Professor at Los Angeles Valley College • Dr. Leanna Research and Consulting
- 3. What’s Anthropology? Study Human Cultures Historically (re: Archeology) Present Day (Cultural Anthropology) Field Research using Participant Observation Access an Insider’s Perspective Cultural Relativism See value in each culture’s practices and survival strategies Applied Anthropology Theory applied to real life situations
- 4. An Anthropological Perspective: Examine Interests and Goals of Players Airbnb Leadership and Staff Hosts On Premises Home Sharers Off Site Owners of One or Two Properties Managers of Multi-Unit Properties Guests Family/Friends of Locals International Tourists Adventure Seekers Business Travelers Local Communities Protect status quo for Hotel Operations Preserve Rental Housing for Residents Respect for Neighbors and Neighborhoods
- 5. Cultural History of Home Sharing Sharing Housing and Food with Travelers/Boarders Medieval Europe and Colonial America Owning a home was owning a business Boarders might Share a Bed with the Home Owner No Heating! Long Cultural History Reason for Exogamous Marriages Papua New Guinea Aboriginal Australia
- 6. My Personal History As a young anthropologist in Mani, Yucatan
- 7. Informal Exchange Mani, Yucatan, Mexico 15 pesos/day for room and board 1975 ($1.20/day) Hammock in shared room with host family Nairobi, Kenya Research on Polygamy Hosts enabled community access Gifts and more gifts Couch Surfing Gifts, Friendship and Adventure
- 8. Field work amongst the Luo on Rusinga Island, Kenya
- 9. Field work amongst the Huli in Tari, Papua New Guinea
- 10. Home Stay in Mumbai, India
- 11. With Hosts in Buenos Aires
- 12. Sipping Coconuts with Host in Rio de Janeiro
- 13. Wine tasting with Hosts in Vienna
- 14. With Host and his friends in Kuala Lumpur
- 15. With Home Stay Host Family in Mulu, Borneo
- 16. My Early History with Airbnb July 2010 Purchased a Home in Los Angeles Hosted first guest in September Cross-Promotions through Craigslist Luning Sun – Chinese Doctor arrives in November Special rate for a living room couch Life long friends First of many Chinese Guests
- 18. Garage Converted to a Spacious Guest Room! spacGuest Room
- 19. Glamping in a Beautiful Yard!
- 20. French Toast Breakfast for Summer European Guests
- 21. Italian Guests Enjoy the Backyard Hot tub
- 22. Elena Arrives from Siberia
- 23. Elena with Koon and Jiao (friends of Luning)
- 24. How Airbnb is Unique An Airbnb Home Stay Possibility of Socializing with Host(s) Host is Paid Telephone Concierge Service Not Couchsurfing Expectation of Socializing with Host(s) Expectation of Gift from Guest Sleeping Surface often a Living Room Couch Not a Hotel Guests can be noisy Guests can leave a mess In Person Front Desk Service
- 25. The Culture of Home Sharing: Share Living Quarters with On-Premises Host(s) Potentially Share Kitchen Bathroom Living Room Laundry Potentially Interact With Host(s) Roommates Other Guests Pets Children
- 26. Engage the Hosts’ World Access Another World …Without Owning it… Shop at Local Markets Cook at Home Visit Local Cafes and Restaurants Unique Host Guidebooks Hosts’ Friends and Pets Inside Access to a local’s world Unexpected Invitations & Opportunities Beyond and Apart from Touristic Sites
- 27. Airbnb Becomes a Game Changer Direct Payment Not just a gift/friendship offering Paid in Advance Internet Explosion Partnership between Boomer’s with Property and Millennials with Web Design Skills 24/7 Customer Service (by telephone) Online References/Reviews Insurance to Protect Hosts and Travelers
- 28. Partnership with Hosts Focus on Hosts Unlike Couch Surfing and Servas which network travelers Conferences, Newsletters, Social Networking Shared Interests in Making Money Incentives for Hosts to Improve Ratings for Communication, Cleanliness, Friendliness Super Host Status Hosts Organized for Political Action Airbnb Hires Community Organizers Influence Municipal Government Regulations
- 29. Accusations Disruption Integrity of Residential Neighborhoods Parking Noise Unsupervised Parties Conversion of Apartment Buildings to Airbnb Units Loss of Rent Stabilized Apartments Destroys Apartment /Condo Safety & Community Loss of Revenue for Hotels Non-Payment of Transient Occupancy Tax
- 30. Problems Posed by Home Sharing Unsafe and Uninsured Properties Property Owner Unavailable Loss of Housing Stock for Local Workers Major issue in touristic areas Asheville, NC Hawaii LA’s Beach Communities
- 31. Normalize Home Sharing? (My Quandary) Home Stays are Unpredictable Adventures! Snuggled on a Reed Mat with a Tarascan Family In a Hammock with a Mayan Family In a Huli Women’s House in Papua New Guinea A Fear-Based Cohort Seeks to: Legislate Safety and Security Ensure Consistency Impose Cleanliness Standards
- 33. Economic Impact of Airbnb in Los Angeles Since its inception 500,000 guests have used Airbnb in Los Angeles 250,000 in 2014 2014 Revenues Spent in LA Neighborhoods N. Hollywood 2 million dollars Sherman Oaks 1.3 million dollars Encino/ Van Nuys 500,000 dollars
- 34. LA’s Airbnb Home Sharing Guests Budget Travelers Afford to Extend their Stays Family & Friend Visits Weddings, Holidays, etc. Sleep in a Comfy Private Room Not Cars / Noisy Youth Hostels Transitioners Relocating for work, etc. Temporary Workers Pilot Season Actors Medical Personnel Film Industry Crew
- 36. Personal Story Workshops Hosts learn to tell persuasive stories to city governments Challenge (At risk for foreclosing on property) Choice (Became an Airbnb Host) Outcome (International Friendships, Prosperity)
- 37. Hosts Reviews his Presentation with an Airbnb Organizer
- 38. Host Presents Her Story to a Los Angeles Listening Session
- 39. Listening Session Attendees Post Their Opinions
- 40. Opinion Boards
- 41. LA’s Quest for Common Ground Prevent Free-Market Economy of Short Term Rentals from Destroying Affordable Local Housing Regulate Numbers of Hosts in “Hot” Communities Local Needs for Sharing Economy Revenues Hosts on Fixed Incomes Promote Positive Business Tie-Ins Special Incentives for Guest/Visitors Short Term Rentals for Business Travelers Cheaper and Homier than a Hotel Alternative for Culturally Curious Travelers Access an Inside World! Assure that Hotels are Not Displaced Many travelers prefer the anonymity of a hotel Collect Transient Occupancy Tax in Booking Process
- 42. A Global Village! Once just the purview of Adventurers & Anthropologists Sharing Economy via Airbnb Benefits Travelers Richens the Lives of Hosts Finding a Niche in Communities Worldwide A Grand Shift in Consciousness Normalize Home Sharing Make Strangers into Friends Welcome to the World as it Can Be!