How gender (in)equalities are perceibed by female tourism workers in the Douro Region?

Abstract

The study intends to observe the female worker’s perspective about gender issues in order to draw some conclusions about gender inequalities. Furthermore, the research intended to perceive if tourism has the capacity to promote gender equality, or if the activity only reproduces the social norm, leaving women in the lower working positions or in occupations related to household duties and responsibilities. A qualitative research method was adopted and the research strategy was based in a case study. Semi-structured interviews and participant observation were used as the data collection techniques. The set of interviews was directed to women working in tourism positions in the Douro region. The interviews showed that the reproduction of gender stereotypes is still very noticeable in the Douro region. It is perceived that the image of women in the region is still connected to the household and childcare responsibilities and the existence of gender discrimination in the territory, in a direct or indirect way, was also presented in the interviewees’ discourses, mainly in the moral harassment form.