The Barbados Tourism Industry

Gender Dimensions of Barbados Tourism Development

The tourism industry in Barbados has impacted significantly on the lives of the population by transforming economic activities. In doing so it has, in most cases, expanded the opportunities available to women and diversified the employment patterns of men.

Employment:

During the pre-independence period, female economic activity was primarily concentrated in the sugar based agricultural sector, small farming, self-employment as seamstresses, vending, retail trade and the care economy. The growth of tourism has opened new employment opportunities for them and has contributed significantly to reducing poverty levels. Data from the Barbados Statistical Service informs that in 2004, of a total labour force of 12, 200 persons employed directly in tourism, women comprise 59% compared to 40.1% men. In keeping with global trends, men dominate in the upper employment levels as managers, professionals and technical persons accounting for 53% of this category. In the middle sector, women exceed men significantly making up 68% -primarily in clerical positions. In the lower sector women make up 48.3%. Males dominate as machine operators (laundry machines and gardening equipment) and females dominate as elementary workers (maids, waitresses). Tourism therefore conforms to the international position as a significant employer of women.

Social Relations:

Women in the lower end of the tourism sector are generally employed as casual workers, part-time and seasonal workers. Men are also found in the gender stereotypical roles of managers, technical persons and machine operators. Again, in conformity with global trends, women are used as sex objects within the industry. They are expected to be attractive and accommodating to male customers. In addition, they are further portrayed in a stereotypical way in brochures and other promotional materials.

There have been some positive developments. As mentioned before, the increased employment opportunities have created a sense of independence and have empowered women to negotiate for and enforce their rights within the family. Their increasing independence from their male partners has made their bargaining position stronger and has equipped them with a say in the critical decisions that shape their future. The advancing status of women generally has seen a parallel shift in the activities of men in areas that were previously dominated by women. These include the manufacture and sale of craft, other forms of vending and their personal and active involvement in the tourist sex trade.

Educational Opportunities:

The growth of the tourism industry has led to the establishment of educational programmes to meet the needs of that sector. Registration for these programmes is dominated by women and the qualifications offered have facilitated limited advancement of women to middle management and upper management positions. The educational opportunities available have done little to alter the horizontal and vertical segregation of labour in the tourism industry. The typical gender pyramid of men in managerial positions and few career development opportunities available to women remain prevalent and have only realised very slow change.

Entertainment and Social Services:

Entertainment services within the industry have traditionally been dominated by men. Musicians performing on the hotel circuit are predominantly men with the women’s role in this sphere being largely confined to limbo dancing and other not so subtle sexual oriented activities like strip teasers and as exotic masseuse. Women also make up a large complement of dancers and it is only through this activity that their numbers have brought them as a group to rival men in terms of numbers performing in this sector. Again, it is noteworthy that their pay is considerably less for this activity than males who are employed in other entertainment activities.

In the area of providing security services for the industry, men again predominated initially. There has however been a gradual shift in the employment patterns with more women entering this sector as private security officers and in the local police force. Their numbers have also increased dramatically in the immigration and customs services but the typical gender pyramid still applies as they occupy the lower rounds of employment in these sectors.

Community Tourism:

This activity has been least developed in Barbados when compared to other popular tourist destinations. Is it because women stand to benefit more from this activity? As a more recent addition to the tourism product, the most popular example is the Oistins Bay Garden where activity is concentrated on weekends. In this fishing village, tourists patronise food stalls that are owned largely by women. There are also plans to develop a community craft enterprise with the aid of the private sector on the scenic east coast where female vendors currently dominate the sale of craft items in the environs of a community centre. Community tourism as an income generator has presented further opportunities for women who in response have had to alter their traditional roles in communities by generating independent income and becoming a ‘leader’ or a business woman.

Opportunities/Constraints:

Tourism has evidently expanded economic opportunities for both sexes and has facilitated a shift in employment patterns. Opportunities have arisen as event planners, cosmetologists, baby-sitters, night club, food services and water sports operators, taxi drivers among others. From a gender perspective though, the opportunities created have been filled according to traditional gender expectations with women gravitating to those activities that they are deemed suitable for and men in positions that conform to traditional patterns and that tend to attract greater returns.

Source case study on Barbados: Gender and Tourism Development (from Ocho Rios Workshop) by John Hollingsworth, Director, Barbados Bureau of Gender Affairs