Women’s mountaineering tourism: an empirical investigation of its theoretical constraint dimensions

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the perceived constraints on participating in mountaineering tourism faced by women, and to empirically verify the dimensionality of those constraints. Survey responses from 314 female mountaineers were collected and four constraint dimensions were identified using confirmatory factor analysis. Three of these dimensions: 'intra-personal', 'inter-personal' and 'structural' constraints support earlier findings in the extant literature, both in general and in the adventure literature more specifically. The identification of a fourth dimension relating to 'family' constraints represents a theoretical contribution to the literature and an additional barrier to women's participation in mountaineering tourism. In previous studies, 'family' constraints have typically been subsumed within 'inter-personal' or 'intra-personal' constraints, but have emerged as a distinctly separate constraint category for women in relation to this particular tourist activity. The findings also have important implications for adventure tourism management practice.

Adventure racing and active lifestyles

“…Three quarters of respondents were male, as these events are marketed primarily to this gender. Research has noted that when female participation is promoted in adventure activities, it is often done so alongside shorter races for children, alluding to inferior capabilities and reinforcing a gender bias (Doran, Schofield and Low, 2018). Such bias is also evident in recent popularity of mud races such as 'Tough Mudder', which rely on a dominant 'masculine and militaristic character' (Weedon, 2015).…”

Women's mountaineering tourism experiences: The constraint negotiation process and benefits of participation

“…Furthermore, whereas existing research has predominantly focused on women (e.g. Doran et al, 2018;), this is a mixed gender study. The findings reveal four new types of personal constraint and negotiation strategy which have not been identified in previous studies.…”

“…Little, 2002; with fewer studies about female adventure tourists (e.g. Doran et al, 2018;. Findings reveal that women adventurers in both contexts encounter three interconnected constraint types .…”

“…Female mountain bikers, white-water rafters and solo hikers encounter more socio-cultural constraints, such as gender role norms and the lack of companions to partake in adventure activities with (Albayrak et al, 2007;. Whereas, female mountaineer tourists encounter more personal and practical constraints, including the high cost of participation, needing specific equipment, not having enough knowledge of the climbing routes, and having concerns about their fitness and climbing ability (Doran et al, 2018). Studies on women adventurers have classified constraint negotiation into three groups .…”

“…Yet, they face tourism constraints, such as time, expense, transport, climate, location, physical ability, limited knowledge about destinations and activities, and lack of coparticipants (Albayrak, Caber and Crawford, 2007). Additionally, they encounter adventure-specific constraints, associated with, for instance, activity skills, using technical equipment or coping with extreme weather conditions (Doran, Schofield and Low, 2018;. Work has mainly examined pre-activity rather than in-situ activity constraints, and there has been limited focus on negotiation strategies and their effective implementation.…”