Multidimensional empowerment of Li ethnic minority women in tourism: A study in Hainan, China

Abstract

While research has increasingly examined women empowerment, empowerment processes for ethnic minority women in tourism remain underexplored. This study helps address this gap by analyzing the empowerment of Li ethnic women employed in an ethnic tourism attraction in China, selecting Binglanggu Hainan Li and Miao Cultural Heritage Park as the research context. In–depth interviews and observations with 34 Li women reveal five multidimensional empowerments across economic, psychological, sociocultural, political, and familial dimensions through four approaches, namely, Li cultural inheritance, employee participation, employee training, and incentive provision. The analysis is underpinned by elements of empowerment frameworks from feminism and tourism research. These five dimensions are decomposed into the resource-agency-achievement model, which explicitly illustrates dynamic (dis)empowerment. Findings provide practical and theoretical value regarding the empowerment of minority women through tourism engagement. The research suggests that tourism participation can empower ethnic minority women, but empowerment effects are complex and dependent on cultural contexts.