Desenvolvimento turístico e desigualdades sociais na hotelaria de Natal-RN: análise das experiências de trabalhadores e ex-trabalhadores em relação à violência no trabalho

Abstract

Different dimensions of violence, exploitation, exclusion and inequality mark contemporary tourism, so there has been increasing attention to research that deals with these phenomena and their effects on tourism. In the case of violence, these studies focus on the analysis of the impacts of these practices under the eyes of visitors and tourists, and there are few studies that relate violence and tourism with residents and workers in the sector. In the latter case, the work environment in tourism, especially in the hotel industry, has been characterized as a locus of hierarchical and, at times, abusive and precarious relationships, but which, however, has little to do with the practices of violence. Thus, the problem identified in this analysis concerns the lack of studies that investigate in depth the ramifications of violence during working hours in the hotel industry. In this sense, the main purpose of this research is to analyze the dynamics of violence that occur during working hours in hotels in Natal-RN. It considers the social inequalities arising from tourist development based on the reports and experiences shared by workers and former workers of the sector. The approach used to investigate the topic is, predominantly, qualitative. The strategy adopted to address the research problem was a single case study. To collect primary data, it was used the snowball sampling technique, together with the data collection technique: semistructured interviews. The research results show that despite its development in contemporary society, the hotel industry constantly deals with structural challenges, which involves work overload, the employment relationship of these professionals, the incidence of violence in the work environment, as well as the complaints made or the resolution of these cases. Social inequalities, therefore, coexist in the work relationships developed between employers and employees, and it is a direct reflection of economic neoliberalism and globalization within society. Workers submit to poor conditions imposed by managers and owners, because they need the job, which further reinforces the scenario of precarious working conditions. Furthermore, the violence observed in the work environment of the hotels in Natal consists of the presence of abusive practices related to moral and sexual harassment, racism, homophobia, among others, especially, addressed to the gender perspective. These practices, therefore, project themselves onto gender and other convergences such as sexual orientation, race and social class, reaching even more significant dimensions.