Women Entrepreneurship – Tourism as a Tool for Empowerment
Author: Lucy King
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Tourism is one of the leading industries, comprised of a range of different jobs and is ultimately an important employer, particularly for women, especially in developing countries (Aynalem et al, 2016). However, for women in the industry, the jobs of offer are mainly low responsibility roles like housekeepers and cleaners (Aynalem et al, 2016). Women entrepreneurs are crucial for the industry, and these positions provide women with all forms of empowerment (UNWTO and UN Women, 211, 17). These forms of empowerment refer to economic, psychological, social and political factors, all to which have great benefits for women and their families. Although tourism is a high employer, providing opportunities for women worldwide, there are a variety of issues present, one of which is gender stereotyping. Gender stereotyping and inequality are apparent in many areas of the sector, and for example, the airline industry throughout the years has had an array of gender stereotyping scandals revolving the way in which males dominate the pilot positions and women are subjected to working mainly in cabin crew careers (UNWTO and UN Women, 2011).
Tourism is a labour intensive industry, requiring skilful workers for successful enterprise whereas it can be particularly difficult for unskilled women. With that being said, the industry provides opportunities for employment, entrepreneurship and empowerment for women who when are provided with opportunity, can highly succeed in enterprise. Tourism work comes in two types: formal and informal, much of tourism work is informal and can have many negative features for women like exploitation, sexual harassment and inequality, it is very clear there are many constraints for women in industry (Aynalem et al, 2016; UNWTO and UN Women, 2011).
Entrepreneurship is a catalyst for creating jobs, wealth and economic growth within communities. With two forms of business and social entrepreneurship, tourism is an important pillar for the encouragement of entrepreneurship, inspiring and empowerment all demographics, particularly those willing (Movono and Dahles, 2017; UNWTO and UN Women, 2011). Entrepreneurship provides women with the same potential as men, contradicting gender inequality and creating self-employment, empowerment and wealth (Movono and Dahles, 2017).
Empowerment is highly connected to women entrepreneurial success (Movono and Dahles, 2017). There are four main forms of empowerment: economic, social, psychological and political. Women entrepreneurship is extremely important for the industry and the exposure of successful women, they challenge cultural barriers; confronting stereotyping and proving to the world women are capable of getting high responsibility roles within the workplace as well as being self-employed successful entrepreneurs (Movono and Dahles, 2017; UNWTO and UN Women, 2011). Through economic and psychological empowerment received through stable, steady income, women can further invest in occupational growth; gain power within their communities and true independence (Movono and Dahles, 2017).
Although the industry provides many opportunities in positive ways, tourism employment can often be unfavourable for women as gender stereotyping still has a negative affect (UNWTO and UN Women, 2011). Within tourism, gender inequalities are best-tackled head on in order to present women as equals. Female entrepreneurship is a stimulant for self-empowerment but it is important to acknowledge women’s success within tourism, and paint women in an equal light as males. Employment and empowerment builds confidence for future entrepreneurs, and tourism provides confidence and happiness to women willing to work (Movono and Dahles, 2017; UNWTO and UN Women, 2011).
As a whole, the UNWTO and UN Women global report (2011) outlines the importance of women entrepreneurs and shows the relevance of female entrepreneurs banding together to combat gender stereotypes, paving the way within the industry to contribute dramatically to local communities and the industry itself. By combating stereotypes such as women are only housekeepers and household workers; the industry can display women as successful leaders instead as this can be the best encouragement for females.
With all things considered, entrepreneurship is a key factor in an individual’s self-fulfilment as well as empowerment – a key motivator for young women wanting to expand within the industry. By encouraging growth can transform the tourism industry into a gender-neutral platform of success. Women have not always been on a level playing field with men in terms of income, education and access to land and assets, and by promoting female entrepreneurship and providing women with education surrounding the subject can increase interest (Aynalem et al, 2016). Promotion, media coverage and displaying women success stories is a top priority for the tourism, providing women worldwide with the confidence to be entrepreneurs and successful in the industry (UNWTO and UN Women, 2011).
References:
Aynalem, S., Birhanu, K. and Tesefay, S. (2016) Employment Opportunities and Challenges in Tourism and Hospitality sectors. Journal of Tourism and Hospitality. 5(6).
Movono, A. and Dahles, H. (2017) Female empowerment and tourism: a focus on businesses in a Fijian village. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research. 22(6), 681-692.
UNWTO and UN Women (2011) Global Report on Women in Tourism 2010. UNWTO: Madrid. Available from http://cf.cdn.unwto.org/sites/all/files/pdf/global_report_on_women_in_tourism_2010.pdf [accessed 9 May 2019].
Tourism is a labour intensive industry, requiring skilful workers for successful enterprise whereas it can be particularly difficult for unskilled women. With that being said, the industry provides opportunities for employment, entrepreneurship and empowerment for women who when are provided with opportunity, can highly succeed in enterprise. Tourism work comes in two types: formal and informal, much of tourism work is informal and can have many negative features for women like exploitation, sexual harassment and inequality, it is very clear there are many constraints for women in industry (Aynalem et al, 2016; UNWTO and UN Women, 2011).
Entrepreneurship is a catalyst for creating jobs, wealth and economic growth within communities. With two forms of business and social entrepreneurship, tourism is an important pillar for the encouragement of entrepreneurship, inspiring and empowerment all demographics, particularly those willing (Movono and Dahles, 2017; UNWTO and UN Women, 2011). Entrepreneurship provides women with the same potential as men, contradicting gender inequality and creating self-employment, empowerment and wealth (Movono and Dahles, 2017).
Empowerment is highly connected to women entrepreneurial success (Movono and Dahles, 2017). There are four main forms of empowerment: economic, social, psychological and political. Women entrepreneurship is extremely important for the industry and the exposure of successful women, they challenge cultural barriers; confronting stereotyping and proving to the world women are capable of getting high responsibility roles within the workplace as well as being self-employed successful entrepreneurs (Movono and Dahles, 2017; UNWTO and UN Women, 2011). Through economic and psychological empowerment received through stable, steady income, women can further invest in occupational growth; gain power within their communities and true independence (Movono and Dahles, 2017).
Although the industry provides many opportunities in positive ways, tourism employment can often be unfavourable for women as gender stereotyping still has a negative affect (UNWTO and UN Women, 2011). Within tourism, gender inequalities are best-tackled head on in order to present women as equals. Female entrepreneurship is a stimulant for self-empowerment but it is important to acknowledge women’s success within tourism, and paint women in an equal light as males. Employment and empowerment builds confidence for future entrepreneurs, and tourism provides confidence and happiness to women willing to work (Movono and Dahles, 2017; UNWTO and UN Women, 2011).
As a whole, the UNWTO and UN Women global report (2011) outlines the importance of women entrepreneurs and shows the relevance of female entrepreneurs banding together to combat gender stereotypes, paving the way within the industry to contribute dramatically to local communities and the industry itself. By combating stereotypes such as women are only housekeepers and household workers; the industry can display women as successful leaders instead as this can be the best encouragement for females.
With all things considered, entrepreneurship is a key factor in an individual’s self-fulfilment as well as empowerment – a key motivator for young women wanting to expand within the industry. By encouraging growth can transform the tourism industry into a gender-neutral platform of success. Women have not always been on a level playing field with men in terms of income, education and access to land and assets, and by promoting female entrepreneurship and providing women with education surrounding the subject can increase interest (Aynalem et al, 2016). Promotion, media coverage and displaying women success stories is a top priority for the tourism, providing women worldwide with the confidence to be entrepreneurs and successful in the industry (UNWTO and UN Women, 2011).
References:
Aynalem, S., Birhanu, K. and Tesefay, S. (2016) Employment Opportunities and Challenges in Tourism and Hospitality sectors. Journal of Tourism and Hospitality. 5(6).
Movono, A. and Dahles, H. (2017) Female empowerment and tourism: a focus on businesses in a Fijian village. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research. 22(6), 681-692.
UNWTO and UN Women (2011) Global Report on Women in Tourism 2010. UNWTO: Madrid. Available from http://cf.cdn.unwto.org/sites/all/files/pdf/global_report_on_women_in_tourism_2010.pdf [accessed 9 May 2019].