The role tourism accommodation facilities in promoting gender equality and empowerment of workers in Maseru rural, Lesotho

Abstract

Gender equality and empowerment have been a major problem not only in household but in the workforce as well globally. This dissertation aimed to explore the role of tourism accommodation facilities in promoting gender equality and empowerment among employees in Maseru rural, how employees were provided with economic empowerment, which training programs were implemented to promote gender equality and empowerment and lastly how employees were provided with social and psychological empowerment. Methods: Qualitative approach was employed using face-to-face in-depth interviews for eight participants in Maseru rural. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Results: The findings showed that empowerment and gender equality for employees in accommodation facilities in Maseru rural did not disseminate equally for employees. The accommodation facilities in Maseru rural were mostly dominated by women than men. Since Lesotho is a patriarchal country even in accommodation facilities women still do housekeeping related jobs while men engage in hard labour jobs with a few of them engaging in unisex jobs. Some felt economically empowered while others felt economically dis-empowered. Training was mostly given to the newcomers while old workers were given occasionally and training offered was both on-job and out-jobs training. It was also found that employees felt socially and psychological empowered by working in accommodation facilities. Recommendations: The government should collaborate with accommodation facility owners to offer training and education programs on gender equality and empowerment and implement policies that encourage the promotion of women to leadership positions within establishments. Both the government of Lesotho and accommodation facility owners should initiate support networks which promote gender equality and empowerment in accommodation facilities.