活動

#週三性別座談會

Date: 29 March 2006 (Wednesday)
Time: 12:30pm – 2:00pm
Venue: Room 401, Humanities Building, New Asia College
Presented by: Michelle Siu Yee Hei (MPhil student, Gender Studies/Anthropology)
Chairperson: Prof. Maria Tam

Abstract
Why is independent travel an activity highly regarded by Hong Kong women? Is their gender status raised through the travel process? This study analyzes the travel experiences of 21 Hong Kong women independent travelers, and discusses the concepts of gender surrounding the activity. Along the pre-journey, on-the-journey and post-journey stages, experiences of transient empowerment would be detailed. I argue that empowerment is achieved, albeit transient, by the women travelers as they exercise agency and autonomy, obtain satisfaction beyond conventional expectations, accumulate social capital, and strengthen existing same-sex relationships. The thesis points to the need to review critically the concept of women’s empowerment beyond the private-public dichotomy.