The Importance of Solo Female Travel

A few months ago I was having drinks with my best friend and her date in Barcelona. The guy in question seemed intrigued about my blog, so I gave him my card in case he wanted have a look at the website.

“Solo Female Travel?” He asked in a subtle mocking voice “What? You are not one of those feminists, are you?”

…

Let’s just say that things didn’t go well from there. The conversation unfolded in a heated debate about the need of feminism in the present. However, my friend’s former SO (yeah, former), missed the whole point of his question.

So Why Solo Female Travel?

Yes, I am a feminist and a proud one. I’ve written articles to seek women empowerment and to fight chauvinist attitudes on the everyday life. I’ve been called every single name in the book, from “feminazi” to “slut who needs to get some” and I’ll keep doing it until there is no need for me to write anymore because we finally reached equality. However, that is not the reason why I run a Solo Female Travel blog.

The DreamPacker is a Solo Female Travel blog because I am a female and I am travelling solo. If I were travelling with my friends or my boyfriend, it’d be a different kind of blog. However, most of my journey has been about me around the world and I thought it was important to document the experience as it was. As a woman. Alone. On the road.

I am not saying that men don’t experience difficulties while travelling on their own, but their challenges are different from women’s. Solo Female Travel is a thing and deserves its own section on the travel blogosphere because it comes with its own issues.

What makes Solo Female Travel Different?

My boyfriend told me that whenever he fancied taking a trip to Belfast, he used to find stranger’s house parties and then crash on their couches to save some money on accommodation. Hey, creative, right? He could party, make some new friends and keep on budget. But can you really think of any girl who could do that without panicking about getting sexually assaulted?

I have written before that when I was preparing for this trip I looked for the best self-defence gadgets to bring with me and finally decided for a rape alarm. I also have a safety app in my phone that I activate whenever I’m walking long distances, so it can message my emergency contact in case I don’t make it home within a certain time frame. Additionally, I researched the safest places for women who like to travel on their own. However, I’ve come across with other travellers who think that this isn’t enough. I’ve even been suggested to get into birth control in case I get raped.

While guys are still in danger of getting robbed or even suffer from physical violence, girls are more prone to sexual attacks and discrimination, especially in certain countries.

I have female friends who had to wear fake wedding rings while they were travelling in Africa, so they wouldn’t be harassed. There is also the dress code issue, which is important and needs to be taken into account while you are a woman travelling. This is because certain places dictate what you can and can’t wear and if you don’t follow those rules, people can get aggressive. I am not saying that this is right or wrong, that is a discussion for another day. I am saying that it is an issue that female travellers face and that it is different from the issues men experience.

Luckily, I haven’t had any extreme experience so far. I think it is mainly because I’ve stayed in western countries. However, I have been cat-called on multiple occasions and received undesired attentions at bars and local pubs. Also, I am very strict with my drinking and walking habits and I am always careful to avoid certain areas of a new city.

However, the physical dangers are just one part of the spectrum. Many female solo travellers also face a constant shaming during their journeys. People think we shouldn’t travel alone or that we have to justify our choices. If you don’t believe me, check this awesome guide with some of the horrible questions we travel girls encounter day to day. Believe me, people, we made our choices consciously and we don’t have to explain anything to you.

So…? What does this mean for women travelling alone?

Does this mean that we should travel in fear and not taking any risks? Or, even worse, not travel at all? Of course not! That’s why Solo Female Travel exists. So we can share advice and spread awareness to make the experience of every women travelling alone as great as possible.

I have hitchhiked on Ireland’s roads, partied with strangers in Belgium, slept in airport benches and I still have plenty of months to go. It is all about taking the necessary precautions to enjoy your adventure to the fullest!

I guess I’ll see you on the road.

Love,