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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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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kong, Shaojun & Guo, Jia & Huang, Dan, 2022. "The girlfriend getaway as an intimacy," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    2. Jessica Mei Pung & Ryan Yung & Catheryn Khoo-Lattimore & Giacomo Del Chiappa, 2020. "Transformative travel experiences and gender: a double duoethnography approach," Current Issues in Tourism, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(5), pages 538-558, March.
    3. Small, Jennie, 2016. "Holiday bodies: Young women and their appearance," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 18-32.
    4. Nordbakke, Susanne, 2013. "Capabilities for mobility among urban older women: barriers, strategies and options," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 26(C), pages 166-174.
    5. Dana Seow & Lorraine Brown, 2018. "The solo female Asian tourist," Current Issues in Tourism, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(10), pages 1187-1206, July.
    6. Brown, Lorraine & Osman, Hanaa, 2017. "The female tourist experience in Egypt as an Islamic destination," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 12-22.
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    1. Ahmed Abdel Fattah, 2026. "Liminal spaces of empowerment: veiled Muslim female tourists negotiate norms and Islamic attire by enjoying leisure without societal expectations," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 60(2), pages 6467-6493, April.
    2. Seyfi, Siamak & Kimbu, Albert Nsom & Vo-Thanh, Tan & Zaman, Mustafeed, 2025. "Tourism, consent, and resistance: A Gramscian lens," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).

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