Fronteiras invisíveis de gênero: impactos da dominação masculina em viagens solo de brasileiras

Abstract

Tourism plays a central role in social life, facilitating cultural exchanges and generating social, cultural, and political impacts. This study investigates masculine domination in the solo travel experiences of Brazilian women in Europe, with an emphasis on the gender dynamics that shape their perceptions of agency, freedom, and safety. The increase in female participation in solo tourism reflects socioeconomic changes that have provided women with greater autonomy; however, challenges still persist, such as the sexualization of their bodies and experiences of harassment, which affect their perceptions of freedom and safety. Using a qualitative approach grounded in critical theory, the research aims to understand how gender dynamics influence these women's experiences during solo travel. The methodology involved a literature review, data collection through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, and a critical data analysis, allowing for the identification of complex power relations that shape travel experiences. The results indicate that, by revealing their nationality, Brazilian women often face stereotypes of hypersexualization and submissiveness, leading to situations of discrimination and harassment. However, these experiences also challenge patriarchal norms, enhancing the women’s perceptions of autonomy, freedom, and self-esteem, and highlight their resistance to gender domination in the tourism context. Based on the findings, the research proposes guidelines for institutional strategies that could contribute to the reinterpretation of gender power relations in the context of solo female travel.