At the edge of the mainstream: social role changes of minority women at a Chinese rural tourism destination

ABSTRACT Women are the key stakeholder in rural tourism development. This study investigates Chinese Muslim women’s (Hui women) social role changes in rural tourism development in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region with gender analysis tools. A semi-structured in-depth interview is conducted among the local Hui women who are currently running the Happy farmhouse (Nongjiale). According to Longwe’s empowerment framework, the findings reveal Hui women have obtained economic independence, improved self-confidence and developed a new type of family relationship but also exposed problems like unequal division of social and family labor, weak gender consciousness and the sense of self-development. The study also demonstrates how this group of minority Chinese women gained empowerment, experience, and self-transformation through the involvement of the tourism industry. This study also provides evidence that these women's having access to more equal opportunities leads to family harmony, social stability, and tourism development.