Growing numbers of female guides and tour bus drivers say they have been discriminated against by foreign travellers and tour operators who have refused their services, requesting males instead. When tour operators acquiesque to these demands they are in violation of Icelandic law, as discrimination on the basis of gender is illegal in Iceland.
A growing problem
Icelandic media has in recent days covered a growing number of cases where female tour guides or bus drivers have lost work when travellers refused their services, requesting male guides or drivers instead. The coverage was sparked by a female guide who contacted the Centre for Gender Equality, which is in charge of administering the Acto on Equal Status and Equal Rights of Women and Men, saying she had been removed as a driving guide on a tour after the guests refused to be driven and guided by a woman. The woman said that this was a persistent, although underreported problem in the tourism industry.
The nationality of the travellers or identity of the tour company in question have not been revealed.
Absurd case of male-chauvinism
A spokeswoman of the Centre for Gender Equality told the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service RÚV that the incidence was a clear violation of the law. No charge has been filed, however, as only the individual who believes he was the victim of the violation can file a charge in court. Although the centre has heard of a number of similar cases no formal charges have ever been filed, as female guides and drivers fear they might lose even more work if they press their rights in court.
The chairman of the union of travel guides told RÚV that while it is ultimately the foreign travellers who are responsible, tour companies which bows to the absurd male chauvinism of travellers must be held accountable, and urged the woman to press formal charges:
I feel that the travel agency in question is also responsible. I think this is completely absurd. … This has obviously been a case of some male-chauvinistic nonsense. … I hope the woman contacts us. She can remain anonymous, and we will contact the travel agency, whether or not it is Icelandic or foreign, and express our outrage. This kind of behaviour is beyond the pale.
Growing numbers of female guides and tour bus drivers say they have been discriminated against by foreign travellers and tour operators who have refused their services, requesting males instead. When tour operators acquiesque to these demands they are in violation of Icelandic law, as discrimination on the basis of gender is illegal in Iceland.
A growing problem
Icelandic media has in recent days covered a growing number of cases where female tour guides or bus drivers have lost work when travellers refused their services, requesting male guides or drivers instead. The coverage was sparked by a female guide who contacted the Centre for Gender Equality, which is in charge of administering the Acto on Equal Status and Equal Rights of Women and Men, saying she had been removed as a driving guide on a tour after the guests refused to be driven and guided by a woman. The woman said that this was a persistent, although underreported problem in the tourism industry.
The nationality of the travellers or identity of the tour company in question have not been revealed.
Absurd case of male-chauvinism
A spokeswoman of the Centre for Gender Equality told the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service RÚV that the incidence was a clear violation of the law. No charge has been filed, however, as only the individual who believes he was the victim of the violation can file a charge in court. Although the centre has heard of a number of similar cases no formal charges have ever been filed, as female guides and drivers fear they might lose even more work if they press their rights in court.
The chairman of the union of travel guides told RÚV that while it is ultimately the foreign travellers who are responsible, tour companies which bows to the absurd male chauvinism of travellers must be held accountable, and urged the woman to press formal charges:
I feel that the travel agency in question is also responsible. I think this is completely absurd. … This has obviously been a case of some male-chauvinistic nonsense. … I hope the woman contacts us. She can remain anonymous, and we will contact the travel agency, whether or not it is Icelandic or foreign, and express our outrage. This kind of behaviour is beyond the pale.
