Gender, tourism, and the gig economy
The Elgar Companion to Tourism and the Sustainable Development Goals, Edward Elgar , ss.123-140, 2024
- Yayın Türü: Kitapta Bölüm / Araştırma Kitabı
- Basım Tarihi: 2024
- Doi Numarası: 10.4337/9781802203219.00017
- Yayınevi: Edward Elgar
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.123-140
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Experiences, Labour, Platform economy, Safety, Space, Turkiye
- Boğaziçi Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
This chapter aims to make an empirical contribution to the role of gender in the ‘tourism experience’ gig economy, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Also known as the platform or sharing economy, the gig economy has had a profound impact on the hospitality and tourism ecosystem over the last decade. More specifically, tourism platforms where locals offer tourism ‘everyday’ experiences are an increasingly popular work form for female tourism workers. Despite the potential positive changes brought on by this new style of working, in 2022, the EU gender equality body warned that platforms can reinforce sexism and inequality. In tourism labour research, the significance of gender roles in transforming tourism production patterns is recognised but little is known about how gender roles impact the experiences of tourism platform workers in cities. Using in-depth interviews with ‘platform experience providers’ (PEPs), people providing tourism experiences via an app, in Istanbul, Turkiye, this paper analyses the role of gender in tourism platforms. A critical feminist economic geography lens is adopted and the concept of social reproduction is used to study the connection of SDG5-Gender Equality and SDG11-Sustainable Cities and Communities to tourism platform labour in a specific context. Findings illustrate that tourism platforms are replicating stereotypes connecting femininity to primary responsibility for caring through their perceived provision of flexible employment. On the other hand, particularly female PEPs negotiate the space within the city they live in, finding ways of keeping themselves safe.