GENDERED LEISURE: ARE WOMEN MORE CONSTRAINED IN TRAVEL FOR LEISURE?

The equality of genders has always remained a contentious issue. Every sphere of life is characterized by differential status ascribed to men and women. It has been argued that women have long been the disadvantaged gender in leisure. Taking specifically the case of travel for leisure, this study is an attempt to explore if socio-demographic factors like family responsibilities, dominance of spouse and/or family, employment status, and one’s gender are dominant in governing travel decisions and to what extent theses are perceived as constraints by male and female tourists. This comparative study of genders arrives at the finding that gender is the detrimental factor for women in participation in travel for leisure. For men, time limitation associated with employment is the major constraint restricting their freedom to travel. Women remain relatively more constrained by familial responsibilities but in today’s world women cannot be identified as the disadvantaged gender in leisure.