WOMEN’S SEXUAL BEHAVIOR IN TOURISM: LOOSENING THE BRIDLE

This study explored the meanings, perceptions, and feelings assigned by women to their sexual behavior in tourism. The findings from 21 in-depth semi-structured interviews reveal that the tourist experiences were perceived as a liminoid and ‘chora’ time-space where women could explore sexual behavior either with steady or casual sexual partners, and recreate their selves through alternative sexual behavior. The changes in women’s sexual behavior were interpreted as resistance to gendered expectations of appropriate sexual behavior. Resistance gave rise to feelings of adventurousness, challenge, control, and empowerment. Post-structuralist lens of power relations, as well as the concepts of front and back regions, performativity, and existential authenticity were adopted to conceptualize the findings.

► This paper provides a grounded theory of women’s sexual behavior in tourism.
► Tourist experiences serve as a liminoid, ‘chora’ time-space for self-exploration.
► Surveillance, resistance and empowerment in women’s sexual behavior in tourism.
► Expression of the authentic self and experimentation with alternative identities.