| Author: | Nisha, Farisha Nazmeen |
| Title: | Tourism, gender and religion : female Muslims’ perceptions of international tourism - an intersectional perspective |
| Advisors: | Cheung, Catherine (SHTM) |
| Degree: | Ph.D. |
| Year: | 2023 |
| Subject: | Tourism Muslim women Hong Kong Polytechnic University -- Dissertations |
| Department: | School of Hotel and Tourism Management |
| Pages: | xvii, 419 pages : color illustrations, map |
| Language: | English |
| Abstract: | Dynamics of complexities prevail when multiple factors intersect and interact among and between each other. Although gender and religion both have important effects on tourism consumption, research inquiries on their combined effect has been limited. The current study examined, evaluated and interpreted the various interconnections (including conflicting relationships) between tourism, gender and religion from multiple perspectives. This empirical investigation sought to intricately unveil female Muslims‘ perceptions of international tourism, as they have often been recognised as marginalised tourism consumers. The intertwined identity of being a female and a Muslim concurrently presents a heterogeneous and distinctive social positionality. The significance of this study was that it sought to provide insights into the role and influence of this intersectional positionality in contributing to the tourism experiences that were subjective to female Muslims, which otherwise are obscured when the perceptions and experiences of female and Muslim tourists are examined separately. The methodological stance adopted was the qualitative tradition of constructivist grounded theory, which enabled the researcher to get closer engagement in generating an in-depth and 3Rinterpretivist understanding of the underexplored research phenomenon. The study methodology considered relativist ontology that situated on multiple realities and subjectivist epistemology as its philosophical underpinnings. The data collection method was in-depth interviews of two sets of stakeholders, specifically, female Muslim tourists and community spokespersons, and was contextualised in the Fijian Muslim community. This study's findings contributed to the literature by providing insights into two levels of intersectional tourism experiences associated with the female gender and Islamic religion identities. The first level of intersectional experiences involved single interaction between gendered and religious identities. Here, gender-focused intersectional tourism experiences involved amplification of gendered tourism experiences by influences from Islamic cultural gendered practices (Qawamum [the protector and maintainer role of familial males], Pardah [social and behavioural gendered boundaries/conduct], Huqooq-ul Ibaad [welfare caretaking of others], Sillaturrahim [kinship caretaking], Akhlaaq [principles of virtue, morality and good manners]) as well as tourism landscapes (female- [Muslim-] friendly/unfriendly). These experiences specifically centered on gendered power structures; care for and attentiveness to others; and modesty and morality sensitivities. Religion-focused intersectional tourism experiences involved the amplification of Islamic religion identity by the female gender identity. Resulted experiences concerned religious needs and, experiences of international Islamic environment; and experiences and perceptions of being differentiated as a Muslim tourist. The second level of intersectional tourism experience involved simultaneous interactions between gendered and religious identities, generating gender-focused and religion-focused tourism experiences simultaneously (specifically, double power relations associated with the intersection of gender and religion). The current study also contributes to the literature by considering both the positive and/or negative intersectional experiences of international tourism. The Fijian context provided insights on some further cultural subjectivities of being a female Muslim tourist, as Islam is not a monolithic religion because of its global and transnational nature. This study examined experiences associated with multiple and intersected identities, and it contributes to the literature by deciphering the synergy between tourism studies, gender studies and religious studies. The study's findings also have practical implications for motivating different stakeholders (e.g. gender and religious organisations and the tourism industry) to promote social inclusion and improve quality of life, especially, that of marginalised individuals, through equality in tourism consumptions. Insights into the homogenous and heterogeneous tourism experiences of female Muslims will enable the tourism industry to better understand the importance of social and religious attributes of tourists and to diversify their products and services accordingly. |
| Rights: | All rights reserved |
| Access: | open access |
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