Frans Wachtmeister: Is the nostalgic female sex tourist here to stay?

The author, Frans Wachtmeister, observes a recurring dynamic in tourist destinations, particularly in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. He describes a scene on a beach where a middle-aged Western woman, referred to as Bridget, is being attended to by a young local man, possibly named Ali. This interaction, characterized by the man's attentive service and the woman's apparent contentment, prompts Wachtmeister to consider the broader implications of such relationships.

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Sometimes, you have to travel away to see yourself.

Wachtmeister contrasts Bridget's apparent happiness with his own discomfort. He finds the heat oppressive, the persistent vendors irritating, and the local music grating, leading him to feel out of place. Despite his personal unease, he remains to observe the couple, sensing that their dynamic offers insight into contemporary times and Europe's place within them. He suggests that sometimes, distance is necessary to gain self-awareness.

The author introduces the concept of "female sex tourism," framing it as an aspect overlooked by Edward Said's "Orientalism." Said's work, which critiqued the West's view of the East as a site of imperialistic oppression, also assigned gender to these dynamics, portraying the West as male and the East as female, the aggressor and the victim. Wachtmeister implies that the current scenario, where Western women appear to be the dominant figures in these interactions, complicates this established framework.

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Female sex tourism. It is the travel that Edward Said forgot.

He notes that in Sharm el-Sheikh, being white has become a privilege, suggesting a reversal or at least a modification of historical power dynamics. This observation leads him to question whether nostalgia for the past is a response to the complexities of the present. The article is an opinion piece from Dagens Nyheter, exploring themes of cultural encounter, power dynamics, and the evolving nature of tourism and identity.

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In Sharm el-Sheikh, it is once again a privilege to be white.