Constructing Space and Self through Risk Taking: A Case of Asian Solo Female Travelers

Abstract

In response to the increasingly risk-conscious environment in contemporary society, a growing body of literature has been dedicated to tourist risk perception. While risk is widely assumed to be a negative element in tourism, this perspective overlooks the fact that risk and tourist experience are intrinsically connected. This study takes a different approach by focusing on tourist risk-taking behavior, specifically, the risk perception and risk management of Asian solo female travelers, with an aim to contribute theoretical insights to the partial, conventional understanding of tourism risk. Located within a feminist framework, this study reveals how existing tourism space remains gendered and Western-dominated, how Asian women grapple with risks through various gendered spatial and bodily practices, and how negotiating risk is also a way to negotiate gender identities. A number of recommendations are provided for future research and for the tourism industry to foster a friendlier space for the Others.

The travel motivations and experiences of female Vietnamese solo travellers

“…Brown and Osman (2017) reported unwanted male attention and sexual harassment against female travellers. Despite the awareness of such risk, in some cases, women engage in travel, seeking empowerment and autonomy (Yang et al, 2018a).…”

“…Research has paid more attention to the constraints faced by western women than Asian female solo travellers. Exceptions include research conducted in recent years by scholars, who studied the influence of Asian cultural norms on female travel behaviour (Seow and Brown, 2018;Teo and Leong, 2006;Yang, 2016;Yang et al, 2018aYang et al, , 2018bZhang and Hitchcock, 2017). Asian women have been cast as vulnerable and dependent in comparison with western women; thus, they seem to participate less in independent travel (Yang, 2016).…”

Bounded Explorers: Online Constructions of Solo Women Travelers

“…While some studies point to women's greater risk of negative experiences traveling alone, others highlight the positives, especially for women's development (e.g., Bagnoli 2009;Heimtun 2012;Scopelliti and Giuliani 2004;Swenson and Zvonkovic 2016;Pung et al 2019;Yang et al 2018a). For example, research using diaries and interviews reporting travel experiences of 41 young adults found that many women reconstructed their identities as self-confident and free while adventure backpacking (Bagnoli 2009).…”

Tourism and gendered hosts and guests

“…Rather than providing a systematic review, or quantifying the literature, which is a popular approach and as previously stated has been done elsewhere (see Figueroa-Domecq et al, 2015;Small, Harris & Wilson, 2017;Yang & Tavakoli, 2016;Yang, Khoo-Lattimore & Arcodia, 2017b), this paper aims to develop an argument grounded on a critical analytical review of the literature (Cohen & Gössling, 2015). The aim of this approach is to critically assess the use of gendered host/guest conceptualisations in published studies in academic journals that explicitly focus on participant voices.…”

“…In contrast to past reviews, this review is by no means exhaustive or systematic, as this has already been carried out by Figueroa-Domecq et al, (2015), and Small, Harris & Wilson (2017). Systematic literature reviews on gender and tourism have begun to focus on specific geographical contexts (Yang & Tavakoli, 2016) and quantify research on certain theoretical areas, such as risk and gender in tourism research (Yang, Khoo-Lattimore & Arcodia, 2017b). Therefore, rather than taking a systematic, quantitative approach, this paper critically assesses the use of gendered host/guest conceptualisations in published studies in academic journals that explicitly focus on participant voices.…”