(All photos courtesy of Gabrielle Andrychuk)
When I was 12, men in trucks began catcalling me as I walked home from school in Edmonton, Canada. It was frightening and perplexing. I’d only ever seen it happen to women in movies. At that point, I hadn’t even hit puberty. Welcome to girlhood. Suddenly, those 40-minute walks felt much longer.
Little did I know, this was just the beginning.
Through a combination of luck, hard work, and privilege, I’ve achieved an advanced education and financial independence. This has afforded me options on the paths I take in life. These are, unfortunately, not the odds everyone is dealt.
In Guatemala, education barriers, discrimination, and poverty are rampant, especially under the weight of extractive tourism. As the country remains a popular tourist destination, greedy conglomerates exploit the industry, diverting resources away from locals and perpetuating cycles of inequality. Dedicated organizations and community leaders are working tirelessly to improve the lives of locals, providing opportunities for people to pursue their dreams.
The Ethical Dilemmas of Tourism and Digital Nomads
People often frame tourism as an escape or an adventure, but it is largely unethical. It can unintentionally fuel exploitation, environmental degradation, and inequality, disrupting local economies and altering social dynamics. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the rise of self-proclaimed digital nomads has intensified these effects while also turning public and communal spaces into makeshift co-working hubs.
Bob Montgomery is an Executive Director at the Land Stewardship Centre who champions conservation and community building. In an interview with Spheres of Influence, he emphasized the reciprocity deficit between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples, stressing the imbalance that exists between them. This deficit manifests in tourism practices when Indigenous Knowledge, resources, and ways of being are extracted and appropriated without equitable return, highlighting the need for respectful and reciprocal relationships between these groups.
Tourism typically funnels wealth to multinational corporations rather than benefiting local Indigenous communities. The phenomenon known as tourism leakage occurs when large capitalist organizations absorb tourism revenue for their own profit. Chain hotels and cruise ships are major culprits in this issue. Over time, local businesses become dependent on tourism, creating mono-economies reliant on a single industry. Montgomery explained that as tourism overshadows other industries and essential services, people abandon sectors that fulfill community needs, opting for tourism-related jobs that offer higher financial returns. This shift does not translate into broader economic equity. It concentrates wealth in specific areas, neglecting and underfunding vital community interests.
The Inequality of Indigenous Peoples in Guatemala
Guatemala is rich in natural beauty—mountains, lakes, and beaches—which contrasts with the locals’ struggles with poverty and limited access to education. A sticker on a lancha at Lake Atitlán said, “It is not paradise when locals can’t afford to live here.” While tourists often see the country as a haven, the reality for Indigenous Peoples is more complex.
Indigenous Peoples make up over 40% of Guatemala’s population, but 80% live below the poverty line and over a third struggle with food insecurity. In rural areas, where 75% of Indigenous Peoples reside, infrastructure and essential services are minimal. These regions receive fewer contributions from international organizations and government-backed initiatives, neglecting the education gap.
In rural areas, 66% of girls drop out of school before completing third grade. High school attendance remains low, with only 33% of girls enrolling, and among those who do, only 37% graduate. As education levels rise, female enrollment declines. Educating girls reduces the risk of forced marriages, unplanned pregnancies, and unhealthy relationships. It paves the way to financial independence and improves overall well-being. Yet, barriers continue to obstruct girls’ education.
Barriers Blocking Girls’ Educational Aspirations
To gain insights from the lived experiences of a local, I spoke with Dilia Carcuz, a Spanish language teacher who supports community initiatives, including efforts to address the street dog crisis.
Carcuz shared, “I’m Guatemalan. I love my country—it’s very beautiful, but it’s not a complete paradise. Corruption, discrimination, unstable employment, and limited access to food, healthcare, and education make it difficult to thrive. Education is a dream for many people, but high costs and minimal government support make it inaccessible.”
Cultural norms and geography shape educational opportunities for girls, especially in rural areas where poverty is widespread. Most families dismiss the value of educating their daughters, believing girls should remain at home to assist with household chores or agricultural work. Women spend 7.5 times more time on unpaid domestic and care work than men. Families with limited resources tend to prioritize their sons’ education, assuming girls will marry and depend on their spouses.
Access to schools presents another challenge. In some cases, students must travel hours to reach one. Urban settings normalize education as a pathway to a prosperous life for all children. These areas offer more resources and institutional support, such as providing meals to encourage student attendance. Ultimately, location plays a crucial role in shaping educational aspirations.
Gendered Ageism in the Workforce
For women, ingrained gendered expectations create barriers that persist into adulthood. Carcuz explained, “Culturally, men are seen as natural leaders while conditioning women to be submissive and weak. From an early age, families teach daughters to prioritize home life—cooking, cleaning, and childcare—rather than stepping into leadership roles in their communities, workplaces, or politics.”
When discussing how misogyny shapes career opportunities and workplace treatment, Carcuz identified childbearing as a major obstacle. As society expects women to become mothers, companies are reluctant to hire them due to potential parental leave and caregiving duties. Employers even pressure pregnant women to resign. Carcuz observed, “They are not always subtle about it.” Hiring practices favour men, assuming they won’t take time off for family obligations. Men are rarely granted parental leave, reinforcing the idea that caregiving is solely a woman’s responsibility.
Carcuz also highlighted the impact of gendered ageism, saying, “I see it everywhere. Many women in my community, some in their 40s and 50s, struggle to find work. Instead of valuing experience, businesses prioritize younger candidates.”
She recalled accompanying a friend to a job interview for moral support. The friend was in her early 20s, while Carcuz was in her late 20s. Upon their arrival, the interviewer mistakenly assumed Carcuz was also applying and immediately rejected her, stating she was too old for the role. Reflecting on the moment, Carcuz said, “I was angry because, first of all, I didn’t want the job. And second, he was older than me! I told him someone younger should replace him because he was too old.”
The Impact of Sexual Violence on Education
In the historic, cobblestone streets of La Antigua, hardworking locals sell food and traditional goods, drawing the attention of tourists. In pockets of the city, dedicated organizations work to improve the lives of Guatemalans.
At Hecho Con Las Manos, an alarming message is displayed in the store, reflecting the issue of sexual violence in the country: “In Guatemala, 14 girls (between 10 and 14 years old) get impregnated every day.” According to Human Rights Watch, impregnated girls face immense pressure to drop out of school permanently. Families send many to live with their assailants or force them to take on labour responsibilities in the home. Limited support from schools and the government, societal stigma, and family pressure result in high dropout rates.
Carcuz explained, “When a girl gets impregnated, parents usually stop supporting her education, insisting she only focus on raising her child. This issue does not confine itself to rural communities; it also affects urban settings. In many cases, families shift their priorities, believing marriage is the best option for the girl.”
Empowering Guatemalan Women and Girls
While working in nutritional recovery in Guatemala, Vacancy Sanchez, the founder of Hecho Con Las Manos, observed that children frequently returned to the same challenging conditions despite the recovery centre’s efforts. In response, she trains women in artisanal jewelry-making, supplying them with materials and fair wages, thereby bringing dignity and a steady income to vulnerable women and their children. The main challenge is securing consistent income to expand the project, relying on in-kind material donations and jewelry kits. Sanchez shared with Spheres of Influence that she once experienced the challenges of being a single mother, and she sees this project as a means of opening opportunities for mothers.
Hecho Con Las Manos empowers 47 mothers across five rural communities by selling their handmade jewelry and worry dolls. Generations of Indigenous Peoples in Guatemala have passed down the tradition of crafting worry dolls to help children sleep peacefully. Indigenous women and girls create these tiny dolls, no taller than two inches, from vibrant textiles that mirror their traditional clothing.
At bedtime, children whisper their worries to the doll, tuck it under their pillow, and drift off to sleep, trusting this small figure to work its magic. It’s poignant that young mothers, robbed of their childhoods and educational opportunities, create and sell these comforting dolls.
Organizations like the Wakami Foundation also disrupt cycles of poverty by establishing long-term pathways to economic stability and prosperity through selling handmade goods. Wakami trains and empowers 530 producers, 96% of whom are women. Through business training, the foundation helps women transform cycles of poverty into cycles of prosperity.
Families involved with Wakami see significant benefits. For instance, children enjoy a 75% higher school enrollment rate and a 60% improved nutritional status compared to the national average. Visitors to the store can find educational posters about initiatives and shop for handmade products.
Advancing Social Transformation and Justice for Flourishing Futures
Beyond business opportunities, empowerment initiatives equip girls and women with the language, skills, and confidence to make informed decisions and advocate for themselves in a deeply patriarchal society where subjugation is the norm. In this context, people may view such tools as threats.
SERnina takes a human security and restorative justice approach to repairing harm, preventing violence, and fostering gender-equitable communities. The organization ensures that survivors’ and communities’ needs shape SERnina’s strategic programming, leading to higher victim satisfaction compared to the retributive justice model. Recognizing that most violence cases involve male perpetrators, SERnina warns against excluding boys and men from programs, calling it a dangerous oversight. The programming garners broader community support for lasting change.
To effectively address social issues in Guatemala, approaches must be led by and designed for Guatemalans, adhering to the principle of “nothing about us without us.” International organizations looking to support educational programming should engage in ongoing conversations with the specific communities they intend to assist, ensuring that their efforts do not risk adopting a neo-colonial approach.
The Art of Sustainable Travel
Making ethical travel choices takes good research and self-reflection. As a graduate of an ecotourism program, Montgomery prioritizes accommodations and experiences led by local communities, ensuring that his spending directly supports them. He suggests that travellers begin this practice at home by engaging with mutual aid organizations and supporting small businesses rather than multinational corporations that extract wealth from their communities. These actions can translate to travel decisions later on.
Choosing sustainable accommodations makes a difference, and Casa Del Mundo and Lush Atitlán set strong examples. Lush Atitlán is a family-run hotel that shows environmental conservation and community development. It provides equitable jobs to the local Indigenous Maya Kakchiquel community and uses biodegradable supplies and energy-efficient practices.
Supporting locally led experiences like De La Gente’s coffee tour and purchasing coffee beans directly from producers channels money into local economies, bypassing exploitative supply chains. Volunteering at events or organizing initiatives like a beach clean-up promotes stewardship. Small actions like these can cultivate kinship and encourage paying it forward.
Responsible travel and sustainable tourism require mindfulness and intentionality. Instead of treating destinations as a mere checklist, travellers can thoughtfully design their trips to create mutual enrichment for both locals and themselves. By supporting community initiatives endorsed by locals, travellers can minimize harm and bridge the reciprocity gap, ensuring locals benefit from visitor spending.
Edited by Isaac Code and Light Naing
