Women Beach and Marina Vendors in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Abstract

The tourism sector in developing regions that are highly integrated into international markets has noticeable effects on the growth of the informal economy. For women vendors on the beach and the marina of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, where the economy revolves around tourism and real estate, hawking souvenirs is an opportunity for empowerment and income, but it can also lead to their exploitation and self-exploitation. While women may suffer discrimination within the tourism sector, ambulant vending contributes to the reduction of poverty and may give women a greater say in their households and their communities. Nonetheless these women are marginalized by their low incomes and lack of social security, their lack of access to the education that might lead to formal-sector employment, their residential segregation, and, for some, the racism directed at indigenous people.El sector de turismo en regiones en vías de desarrollo que se encuentre altamente integrado con los mercados internacionales, tiene efectos en el crecimiento de la economía informal. Para las mujeres vendedoras ambulantes en las playas de Cabo San Lucas, México, en donde la economía se concentra en el turismo y bienes raíces, la venta de recuerdos puede proveer una oportunidad para capacitarse y ganar ingresos, pero también puede llevar a su explotación y auto explotación. Mientras las mujeres pueden sufrir a causa de la discriminación en el sector turístico, la venta ambulante puede reducir la pobreza y darles a las mujeres mayor voz en el hogar y la comunidad. Pese esto, las mujeres se encuentran marginadas por su bajo ingreso y falta de seguro social, su falta de acceso a la educación que puede conducir al empleo en el sector formal, su segregación residencial, y, para algunas, el racismo en contra de los indígenas.

Tourism, Empowerment and Sustainable Development: A New Framework for Analysis

“…Scholars of tourism were relatively quick to start discussing empowerment [34,35], and have since grappled with urgent questions of power, power inequities, disempowerment and empowerment in tourism [7,[36][37][38]. Interest in the tourism-empowerment interface has been notable in writing on particular aspects of tourism, as follows: community-based tourism [39,40], business tourism [41], coastal and marine tourism [42,43], cultural tourism [15,[44][45][46][47], ecotourism [13,38,[48][49][50][51], Indigenous tourism [52][53][54], naturebased tourism [55,56], rural tourism [57,58], wildlife-based tourism [49,59], and urban tourism [60]. Countries located in the Global South (including Botswana, Ecuador, Indonesia, India, Vietnam, the Philippines, Namibia, Nepal, Mozambique, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda, Mexico, Costa Rica, Fiji and Zimbabwe) feature prominently in the related literature.…”

Conceptualising human and non-human marginalisation in tourism

“…For example, Yatmo’s (2008) study, which reassessed the position of street vendors as rejected urban elements, showed that 83.4% of street vendors were illegal, which meant they had no legal support. This caused them many disadvantages, such as being harassed by the authorities and having their goods confiscated (Berner et al, 2012; Wilson et al, 2012). The authorities and policymakers decided who had the right to use public spaces and what kinds of activities would be allowed in these spaces, which was influenced by the dominant power structures and relations within society.…”

“…Thus, resistance to immigration from locals can occur. This can lead to migrants suffering discrimination, potentially in the form of racism, and consequent marginalisation (Wilson et al, 2012).…”

“…Many studies have discussed marginalisation cases within tourism (e.g. Wilson et al, 2012; Islam and Carlsen, 2016). Yet, a comprehensive conceptual analysis of this phenomena is lacking.…”

Tourism and gendered hosts and guests

“…Perhaps research concerning hosts is more likely to include both men and women, as this perspective might be centred on how gender is constructed or negotiated within these developing contexts. Research on Babb (2012) Women and men in Peru and Mexico Cole and Ferguson (2015) Women and men in Costa Rica Duffy et al (2015) Women and men in the Dominican Republic Kimbu and Ngoasong (2016) Women and men in Cameroon Ling et al (2013) Women in Cuandixia, China Tajeddini et al (2017) Women in Bali Tran and Walter (2014) Women and men in Vietnam Tucker and Boonabaana (2012) Women in Turkey and women and men in Uganda Wilson et al (2012) Women in Mexico Ypeij (2012) Women and men in Peru gendered tourists appears to be concerned with the female tourist experience, rather than how gender is constructed and negotiated relationally on holiday. Although, this focus on women's experiences is admirable, necessary and important, studies including men might allow new insights, as well as the study of new topics.…”