Gender Power Relations at Work and at Home: Experiences of women working in tourism in San Gil, Colombia

Summary

This thesis contributes to theoretical and empirical debates on the relationship between women's labour participation in tourism and gender equality. Specifically, it analyses how gender power relations at work and at home are navigated and negotiated by women working in tourism as employees, entrepreneurs and in tourism social enterprises, using the region of San Gil in Colombia as a case study. The thesis highlights the unique characteristics of the region and sheds light on the historical legacies that may have contributed to inappropriate policies. It also shows that each labour position is associated with different forms of empowerment.

Finally, by combining gender and tourism studies with feminist scholarship, the thesis uncovers new relationships and dynamics that have not been fully recognised. By applying a feminist lens, the study identifies practices that risk undermining gender equality and empowerment