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Body hair and booty calls: Conceptualising ‘empowered-ness’ in travel and tourism for solo female vanlifers

Author

Listed:
  • Khoo, Catheryn
  • Thakur, Prachi
  • Yang, Mona Ji Hyun
  • Pung, Jessica Mei
  • Ting, Amanda

Abstract

The present study focuses on advancing the current discourse from women empowerment to ‘empowered-ness’ by conceptualising solo female vanlifers' bodies from travel reflections as a medium to redefine boundaries for socio-cultural norms. This study adopted a multi-faceted approach integrating social-networking-platform and ethnographic data to examine empowered-ness for women in prolonged mobility, and the role of empowered women's bodies in travel. 421 statements from 285 solo female vanlifers were collected through social-networking-platforms, and supplemented with synchronous longitudinal ethnographic data journalling solo female vanlife. The findings demonstrate that female empowered-ness through vanlife mobility manifests through independence from men, unconventional relationships, and risk-taking behaviour. This conceptual shift from empowerment to an ‘empowered’ framework is a contribution to solo female travel literature.

Suggested Citation

  • Khoo, Catheryn & Thakur, Prachi & Yang, Mona Ji Hyun & Pung, Jessica Mei & Ting, Amanda, 2025. "Body hair and booty calls: Conceptualising ‘empowered-ness’ in travel and tourism for solo female vanlifers," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:anture:v:111:y:2025:i:c:s0160738325000118
    DOI: 10.1016/j.annals.2025.103905
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