Participación de las mujeres en el carnaval de Tepoztlán, México, bajo el microscopio de género, feminismo y turismo

The objective of this research is to identify how feminism and gender equality policies influence the participation of women in carnivals in Latina America and Mexico; specifically, in Tepoztlan, Mexico. The theoretical approach proposed in this research is what we call “the feminist gender perspective”, which analyzes gender relations with a critical vision towards patriarchy. The methodology used is qualitative; applying in-depth interviews, life stories and participant observation, as well as municipal documentary review, photographic record and bibliography on the subject. The main findings show that feminism and gender equality policies have promoted the substantive equality of women in tourism, by increasing their participation in all sectors. However, the patriarchal system preset major obstacles in perpetuating traditional gender roles by anchoring women to domestic and care work, limiting their professional development. The conclusions show that the influence of feminism in carnivals in Latin America and Mexico is present in the coexistence of traditional forms of female participation, along with expressions in transition and processes of chance. One example is the carnival in Tepoztlan, where female visibility in the organization, troupes, commerce and tourism is present.