Solo Female Travel: Barriers and Benefits
Author: Georgia Berryman
1 Commentries
This paper explains the socio-cultural, personal, spatial and practical barriers which are inflicted on female travellers, and describes how women overcome and benefit from participation in solo travel. It aims to discuss how changes and developments over the past decade may influence females who wish to take part in individual travel.
Keywords: Female, solo travel, independent, barriers, benefits
The number of women participating in solo travel is increasing (Pemberton, 2015). These women are often motivated to partake in solo travel as they are within a transitional period of their lives. By travelling independently, these women have the time and experiences which enable them to come to terms with their life change and to help them find their real or develop their new self. The women who have participated in independent travel speak of the benefits from doing so; however women must negotiate the internal and external barriers which are imposed upon them. This paper addresses these internal and external barriers and details the struggle which women face before and during travel yet also details the benefits which these women receive. Much of the literature already present on this topic states the barriers and benefits; however this work adds a new perspective onto how these are negotiated.
Wilson and Little (2005) assessed the barriers present for women opting to partake in solo travel, they further categorised these into socio-cultural, personal, practical and spatial barriers (2005:161). These four types of barriers are explained in greater detail however as much of the literature was written almost ten years ago, the author has brought in new evidence where applicable to argue whether these barriers are still as pertinent . Alongside this to add to the debate regarding female solo travel, the benefits to those partaking in tourism of this type are also explained.
Socio-cultural barriers to women participating in solo travel have been around since the 18th Century (Harris and Wilson, 2007:237). These social barriers inhibited women as society constructed views regarding what was considered appropriate for women and their roles. Women were expected to lead a life of servility and domesticity and not to be independent active agents. These views forced upon women by society have been in place for hundreds of years, however a notable shift has changed and more recently it is deemed more acceptable for women to be less adherent to the ideologies of marriage and family life. Thus, society as a barrier is not as prevalent for women who wish to partake in solo travel as it may have in the past.
For many women when thinking of or participating in solo travel are faced with personal and spatial barriers. Women are raised to be fearful from a young age; they are influenced by family and the media’s portrayal of negative happenings and these present themselves as personal and spatial barriers. In previous research authors have explained how women are spatially aware that specific places or scenarios place them in greater risk and thus women actively overcome this by changing their behaviour to control this. New methods of communication technology have also acted as enablers for women to overcome their fear. Blogs and websites written by women who have previously travelled to destinations are readily available. Therefore women learn from the experiences of others which have been shared thus controlling their vulnerabilities and thus lowering their fear. Prior to embarking on their trip women report feelings of self doubt and other negative thoughts regarding themselves. Although these are negative feelings, they are often used as self encouragement by women. By overcoming their personal barriers women are likely to gain benefits, examples of which empowerment, improved self confidence levels and increased self worth.
Linking to the previous socio-cultural change ideologies, it is now more acceptable for women to be career focussed, which allows financial autonomy. This acts as an enabler to solo travel as women have the choice to spend their money in their desired way which in the past women would not have been able to do. Tourism organisations are also acting as enablers for women. After recognising the rise in the market segment, there has been a creation or change in existing travel products and services to meet the new needs of these customers. Examples of these are online platforms which enable women to book and organise female only tours. Other examples are female only hotel floors to lessen traveller’s vulnerabilities and fears and female concierge managers who focus on the needs of solo female travellers.
Overall, barriers are still present for women who wish to participate in solo travel. However, this paper has described how many of these barriers are being lessened whether due to societal or technological change or product development. Independent travel can have great personal benefits to those who take part in such behaviour and poses as a way in which women can defeat the barriers which are imposed upon them. Following on from this paper, research should be carried out to ascertain how relevant these ideology changes, technological advancements and new products are in enabling women to partake in solo travel. As this paper suggests, at present, the author has drawn conclusions from the developments over the past decade, yet it is worthwhile to confirm these through academic research.
References
Harris, C. and Wilson, E. (2007) ‘Travelling beyond the boundaries of constraint: Women, Travel and Empowerment’. In: Pritchard, A., Morgan, N., Ateljevic, I. and Harris, C. (ed.) Tourism & Gender: embodiment, sensuality and experience. Wallingford: CABI. pp. 235-251.
Pemberton, J. (2015) She’s looking for adventure, she’s going alone and she’ll tell you all about it: Introducing the solo female traveller. Available at: http://www.adventuretravelnews.com/shes-looking-for-adventure-shes-going-alone-and-shell-tell-you-all-about-it-introducing-the-solo-female-traveler (Date Accessed: 21/04/2015).
Wilson, E. and Little, D. E. (2005). ‘A ‘relative escape’? The impact of constraints on women who travel solo. Tourism Review International, 9, 155-175.
Keywords: Female, solo travel, independent, barriers, benefits
The number of women participating in solo travel is increasing (Pemberton, 2015). These women are often motivated to partake in solo travel as they are within a transitional period of their lives. By travelling independently, these women have the time and experiences which enable them to come to terms with their life change and to help them find their real or develop their new self. The women who have participated in independent travel speak of the benefits from doing so; however women must negotiate the internal and external barriers which are imposed upon them. This paper addresses these internal and external barriers and details the struggle which women face before and during travel yet also details the benefits which these women receive. Much of the literature already present on this topic states the barriers and benefits; however this work adds a new perspective onto how these are negotiated.
Wilson and Little (2005) assessed the barriers present for women opting to partake in solo travel, they further categorised these into socio-cultural, personal, practical and spatial barriers (2005:161). These four types of barriers are explained in greater detail however as much of the literature was written almost ten years ago, the author has brought in new evidence where applicable to argue whether these barriers are still as pertinent . Alongside this to add to the debate regarding female solo travel, the benefits to those partaking in tourism of this type are also explained.
Socio-cultural barriers to women participating in solo travel have been around since the 18th Century (Harris and Wilson, 2007:237). These social barriers inhibited women as society constructed views regarding what was considered appropriate for women and their roles. Women were expected to lead a life of servility and domesticity and not to be independent active agents. These views forced upon women by society have been in place for hundreds of years, however a notable shift has changed and more recently it is deemed more acceptable for women to be less adherent to the ideologies of marriage and family life. Thus, society as a barrier is not as prevalent for women who wish to partake in solo travel as it may have in the past.
For many women when thinking of or participating in solo travel are faced with personal and spatial barriers. Women are raised to be fearful from a young age; they are influenced by family and the media’s portrayal of negative happenings and these present themselves as personal and spatial barriers. In previous research authors have explained how women are spatially aware that specific places or scenarios place them in greater risk and thus women actively overcome this by changing their behaviour to control this. New methods of communication technology have also acted as enablers for women to overcome their fear. Blogs and websites written by women who have previously travelled to destinations are readily available. Therefore women learn from the experiences of others which have been shared thus controlling their vulnerabilities and thus lowering their fear. Prior to embarking on their trip women report feelings of self doubt and other negative thoughts regarding themselves. Although these are negative feelings, they are often used as self encouragement by women. By overcoming their personal barriers women are likely to gain benefits, examples of which empowerment, improved self confidence levels and increased self worth.
Linking to the previous socio-cultural change ideologies, it is now more acceptable for women to be career focussed, which allows financial autonomy. This acts as an enabler to solo travel as women have the choice to spend their money in their desired way which in the past women would not have been able to do. Tourism organisations are also acting as enablers for women. After recognising the rise in the market segment, there has been a creation or change in existing travel products and services to meet the new needs of these customers. Examples of these are online platforms which enable women to book and organise female only tours. Other examples are female only hotel floors to lessen traveller’s vulnerabilities and fears and female concierge managers who focus on the needs of solo female travellers.
Overall, barriers are still present for women who wish to participate in solo travel. However, this paper has described how many of these barriers are being lessened whether due to societal or technological change or product development. Independent travel can have great personal benefits to those who take part in such behaviour and poses as a way in which women can defeat the barriers which are imposed upon them. Following on from this paper, research should be carried out to ascertain how relevant these ideology changes, technological advancements and new products are in enabling women to partake in solo travel. As this paper suggests, at present, the author has drawn conclusions from the developments over the past decade, yet it is worthwhile to confirm these through academic research.
References
Harris, C. and Wilson, E. (2007) ‘Travelling beyond the boundaries of constraint: Women, Travel and Empowerment’. In: Pritchard, A., Morgan, N., Ateljevic, I. and Harris, C. (ed.) Tourism & Gender: embodiment, sensuality and experience. Wallingford: CABI. pp. 235-251.
Pemberton, J. (2015) She’s looking for adventure, she’s going alone and she’ll tell you all about it: Introducing the solo female traveller. Available at: http://www.adventuretravelnews.com/shes-looking-for-adventure-shes-going-alone-and-shell-tell-you-all-about-it-introducing-the-solo-female-traveler (Date Accessed: 21/04/2015).
Wilson, E. and Little, D. E. (2005). ‘A ‘relative escape’? The impact of constraints on women who travel solo. Tourism Review International, 9, 155-175.