Empowerment of women through cultural tourism: perspectives of Hui minority embroiderers in Ningxia, China

Engagement of vulnerable rural women in the demonstration and practices of cultural heritage for tourism is a strategy that can empower them. Five dimensions of women’s empowerment (economic, social, psychological, educational and political) are examined at multiple scales (self, family, community and society) in a Hui ethnic community in Haiyuan County, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, northwest of China. This county is nationally recognized for its poverty. Semistructured interviews were undertaken with government officials, management staff of embroidery cooperatives and rural women. It is shown that the involvement of rural Hui women in embroidery tourism has not only advanced them economically but also provided feasible paths for social, psychological, educational and political empowerment to varying degrees. Theoretical contributions and practical implications of the research are then discussed.