Gendered practices in urban ethnic tourism in Thailand

Trupp, Alexander and Sunanta, Sirijit (2017) Gendered practices in urban ethnic tourism in Thailand. Annals of Tourism Research, 64 . pp. 76-86. ISSN 0160-7383

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Abstract

The purpose of this research is to investigate the gendered economy of ethnic minority souvenir vending in Thailand’s urban and coastal tourist areas. Increasing numbers of the Akha minority group have migrated towards tourist hotspots to engage in urban souvenir vending. Ethnographic research shows that according to the Akha gender division of labour, souvenir production and distribution are considered women’s work. Peddling on foot, female Akha souvenir vendors are at the bottom of the informal tourism economy. It is shown that urban ethnic tourism primarily reproduces gender asymmetry in the division of work and that contestations of gender roles prove to be difficult. Mobile street vending enables ethnic minority women to become breadwinners of households but simultaneously reinforces gender inequality.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Additional Information:	Highlights: - Urban ethnic tourism in Thailand is highly feminized. - Synthesis of gender concepts inside and outside of tourism studies. - Gender hierarchy is reconstructed in souvenir production and types of vending. - Urban souvenir vending both re-affirms and challenges Akha gender roles. - Intersection of gender, ethnicity, and informal status.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Ethnic tourism; Ethnic minority; Gender; Thailand; Street vending; Akha
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > G Geography (General) G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GN Anthropology G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) H Social Sciences > HM Sociology
Divisions:	Faculty of Business and Economics (FBE) > School of Tourism and Hospitality Management
Depositing User:	Alexander Trupp
Date Deposited:	24 Mar 2017 01:34
Last Modified:	24 Mar 2017 01:34
URI:	https://repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/9689

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