Tourism development and the restructuring of social reproduction in Central America

ABSTRACT This research speaks to two themes on which little empirical work has been carried out in IPE: tourism and social reproduction. It focuses on changing relations of social reproduction in two tourism communities in Central America – Placencia in Belize and Monteverde and Costa Rica. In contrast to the majority of literature on social reproduction, the starting point for this analysis is not the reprivatisation of social reproduction but rather an exploration of how actors in tourism communities in Central America negotiate the tensions between capitalist development and social reproduction in a context of minimal state provision. Drawing on extensive field research in these communities, I identify a gap in social reproduction generated by women's intensive and anti-social working conditions in the tourism industry combined with enduring attitudes that social reproduction remains the responsibility of women. The paper explores the responses to this gap, setting out two clear trends – the 'contracting out' of social reproduction and the construction of policies which aim to minimise the impact of tourism development on social reproduction. I argue that both of these responses represent privatised solutions to the social reproduction dilemma and urge continued support for progressive policy responses.