A recent employment study sheds light on the nuanced relationship between tourism and gender equality in the labour market.
The study by Mahalia Jackman, Head of the Department of Economics at The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus was published in the January–February 2022 issue of the Women's Studies International Forum. The paper titled "The Effect of Tourism on Gender Equality in the Labour Market: Help or Hindrance?" provides crucial insights that could influence future policy and academic discourse.
Jackman's comprehensive analysis, spanning 143 countries from 2006 to 2017, uncovers a complex landscape where tourism's impact on gender equality varies significantly across different regions. Her findings indicate a positive correlation between tourism and gender equality in developed countries, an inverse relationship in Sub-Saharan Africa, and no significant impact in the Middle East and North Africa.
The implications of these findings are profound. Jackman argues that if tourism is found to mitigate gender inequality, policymakers should focus on harnessing these positive effects. Conversely, if tourism exacerbates existing inequalities, substantial policy shifts would be necessary to ensure equitable benefits for both men and women in the tourism sector.
Jackman's study dives deep into the ongoing debate about tourism's potential to either contribute to or hinder gender equality and women's empowerment. With women constituting a significant portion of the global tourism workforce, the industry holds substantial promise for boosting female employment and entrepreneurship. However, the sector is also criticised for perpetuating traditional gender roles, often confining women to care-related or customer service jobs while excluding them from physically demanding roles and key managerial positions.
To quantify the effects of tourism on gender equality, Jackman utilises a tourism density indicator—tourist arrivals per capita—and a composite index from the World Economic Forum, which measures labour market gender gaps in participation, remuneration, and advancement. Her research reveals that tourism specialisation has varied impacts on gender equality depending on the region and developmental stage of the countries involved.
The study also enriches the academic literature by addressing the previously underexplored cross-country relationships between tourism and gender equality in labour markets. Jackman's global-scale analysis, employing a diverse and extensive dataset, allows for a nuanced investigation into how tourism influences gender equality differently across various country groupings. Cultural values and gender role belief systems, which differ markedly across regions, significantly affect the progress towards gender equality and, by extension, the impact of tourism on this progress.
In her concluding remarks, Jackman underscores the potential of tourism as a tool for advancing the universal 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly in achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls. With gender equality being integral to progress across all sustainable development goals, this study provides vital evidence for policymakers and stakeholders in the tourism industry to craft informed strategies that ensure equitable benefits and opportunities for all.
Jackman's research, by meticulously dissecting the multifaceted relationship between tourism and gender equality, not only offers critical policy insights but also contributes significantly to the academic discourse on sustainable development and gender studies. As the world continues to strive for gender equality, studies like Jackman's serve as essential guides for navigating the complex dynamics of global industries and their socio-economic impacts.