Mapping Gender Inequality in the Mediterranean Culinary Heritage—The Case of Crete

Tourism is a significant economic driver in rural areas of Europe, where gender inequality is higher and digital preparedness is low (EU, in The gender inequalities in the European Union, 2022). Food production, storage, and harvesting are among the challenging and time-consuming jobs that women must perform in rural economies without receiving the appropriate respect or status (CIHEAM, in Gender equality in the Mediterranean region, 2022). In these rural areas, women can be characterized as the guardians of the Mediterranean culinary heritage as they are mainly responsible for selecting and preparing food. Gastronomy and culinary practices are aspects of the intangible cultural heritage which is considered as the competitive advantage of many rural areas. Considering that tourist demand for innovation, diversity and adventure are continuously rising, the interrelation among rural tourism and Mediterranean culinary heritage is unquestionable given the strong links with activities such as agriculture, rural lifestyle and activities, food and drink production, and crafts. Undoubtedly, covid-19 pandemic crisis intensified the pre-existing phenomena of social pathogenicity and gender inequalities among them. Therefore, this research aims to detect the role of women in the culinary heritage of rural areas of Chania and Heraklion, Crete. Reviews from TripAdvisor for restaurants providing local cuisine and situated in rural areas close to Chania and Heraklion will be collected and examined. The study intends to detect the role of women as portrayed by reviewers by using deductive reasoning and qualitative analysis. Implications will derive for policy makers; HE institutes and VET providers in order to support gender equality.