Gender inequalities in a tourist region: the case of the Canary Island companies in a pre-pandemic scenario

Abstract

The Canary Islands conform the most populated ultra-peripheral region of the European Union with almost two million inhabitants, receiving more than 13 million tourists in 2019, in a pre-pandemic scenario. Therefore, the islands represent a very particular setting to explore the impact of the global pandemic in business in general, and also in gender diversity and the situation of women on corporate boards in particular. Firms from several industries were observed in detail, as retail, wholesale, construction, manufacturing, repair and sale of vehicles and accommodation. The study explores the setting just before the advent of the coronavirus to their lives in a region which is obviously highly fragile to these events. The study reveals huge gaps in gender equality, with women less present and with less executive power than men, particularly in companies with better results and from certain industries, which confirms previous stereotypes. Further research will be required by means of longitudinal studies.