GENDERED TOURISM: MOROCCAN FEMALE WORKERS IN THE LOCAL TOURISM INDUSTRY

This study analyzes the influence of tourism development on the lives of Moroccan women employed in tourist accommodation venues in the town of Erfoud in southern Moroccan. The investigation considers both the economic advantages of women's involvement in tourism and the cultural and religious implications of such participation on the lives of these predominantly illiterate women. The study adopts an ethnographic method and argues that while employment in the tourism and hospitality industry undoubtfully brings financial benefits to an otherwise impoverished region, it fails to improve the social status or gender relations and identities of the women. It is found that these are worsened in many cases since working in tourism presupposes that the women maintain sexual relations with their male coworkers.