How was a woman general tempered? Incorporating the gender perspective in the construction of a women’s heritage site

Abstract

Tourism plays a crucial role in delivering and constructing women's heritage values. However, the construction of women's heritage is often carried out in a gendered social and tourism context. Drawing on a critical gender perspective, this study examines how the women's heritage site is constructed in a Chinese context, and how the constructions are experienced by tourists. The heritage site of China's sole woman general, Qin Liangyu, is used as a case. Qualitative data was collected through semi-structured interviews and on-site observations, and thematic analysis was conducted. Findings indicate that the constructed heritage and tourism product emphasises Qin's military prowess as a general; however, its contribution to using this woman heritage tourism product towards gender equality is limited. The research highlights that a gender perspective of heritage construction and heritage tourism is needed in delivering the value of women's heritage for gender equality.