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Women travelling solo - an adventure?

Women travelling solo - an adventure?
Author: Liisa Pietila
3 Commentries
Increasingly women solo travellers have become a significant sub-market in tourism. In the US one third of domestic vacations are taken by a person travelling alone, of which around a half are women. The motivation to travel alone is a sum of various justifications. Psychological and physical push and pull factors influence on the choice of travel. There is not one reason for to travel solo but several motivational factors have an effect to go on a holiday alone. Solitary travel is seen as an experience that has a sense of freedom to it. Solo travel is also about an adventure and curiosity.

The motivation for women travelling alone could be explained by using Maslow's theory of motivation where the needs of the tourist are in order according to their motivational strength. Psychological, safety, belongingness needs are considered as lower motivational needs whereas self-esteem and self-actualisation are higher needs. According to a study women have higher motivational needs than men indicating that women seek to find a sense of self-confidence, empowerment and resistance to the traditional roles when travelling.

These needs can be categorised to five specific motivational reasons for women to travel alone: experience, escape, self-esteem, relaxation and social needs. Women do not travel alone only to see new places but to get new knowledge, experiences and to feel independent in a way to escape the pressure from society. Also facing the constraints, such as cultural acceptance, can act as motivation to travel in order to gain better confidence in skills and care of oneself. According to these motivations solo travelling could be seen as an adventure where risk is present and the traditionally masculine activity is challenged.
Adventure tourism is not only mountain climbing or other risky activities, it is neither the destination; travelling alone per se is an adventure. Only the activities sought and adventure destinations when holidaying do not constitute an adventure, but it is the nature of the holiday that matters. What is experienced before, during and after travel make it an adventure. For women travelling alone is generally as much as an inner as it is an outer adventure. The core characteristics of adventure tourism - uncertain outcomes, risk, challenge, anticipated rewards, novelty, excitement, escapism, exploration and various emotional changes - are all present when travelling alone. Uncertainty, risk and challenge are linked together when doing something new or unfamiliar. The outcome of travel is uncertain and the possibility of risk is present. For many it is a challenge to go for a holiday alone as they need to rely on their own skills and abilities.

The result of solo travel is usually a positive one as it is often central to have control over one's own choices. Women are able to achieve their goals for self-discovery, empowerment and self-improvement. The journey offers rewards and stimulates the emotions and allowed to escape from the normal life. When taking an adventure women challenge their own and society's ideas of a traditional woman and look for acceptance by challenging mental obstacles. It requires boldness and confidence to go for an exploration without companions. Often travel guides directed to women enforce this kind of thinking and inspire women to be open to adventure and face their fears alone. In addition, they challenge the male dominated gaze that adventure tourism commonly has.

Thus it could be argued that women travelling alone can be seen as adventuresses, as the risk is present and they need to rely on their own skills and experiences. Without risk the adventure cannot be experienced, but when the risk becomes too big a misadventure might occur. Still it is the outcome of the journey that inspires to travel alone. When women are able to resist the surveillance and when the risk is not overpowering they can fulfil their high motivational needs for travel.

As a result from the journey are freedom, strength and empowerment, which continue to drive women to travel alone. They might not be identified before the journey, but could be recognised during the journey or afterwards. Through the personal adventure women allow themselves to prioritise their own needs and wants and to take time from the possibly busy family/ work life. The sense of freedom is important for many women. It is a way of escape that enables experiencing something new of the surroundings and also of oneself. Taking an adventure without others demands courage to trust own skills and knowledge, which can lead to self-improvement and better confidence. Travelling alone for women is an escape from the femininity that challenges the dominant masculine image of adventure. Although adventure tourism can be seen mainly as a manly form of tourism, for women the adventure is more an inner adventure which often has more importance in the psychological level than in physical.



Elsrud, T. (2005), Recapturing the Adventuress: Narratives on Identity and Gendered Positioning in Backpacking, Tourism Review International, vol. 9, pp. 123-137.

Harris, C. and Wilson, E. (2007), Travelling Beyond the Boundaries of Constraint: Women, Travel and Empowerment, in Pritchard, A. et al. ed. Tourism & Gender, Wallingford: CAB International.

Wilson, E. and Harris, C. (2006), Meaningful Travel: Women, Independent Travel and the Search for Self and Meaning, Tourism, vol. 54 (no. 2), pp. 161-172.
The adventurous sort!
Author: Melissa Butler
I have chosen to comment on this paper as I have much knowledge and understanding of this particular topic. Previous research shows a fascinating trend in solo travellers, the majority of whom being women. Hillman, (1999) cf Meethan, (2006) agrees with this and says that female solo backpackers seem to outnumber male solo backpackers. It becomes obvious that this is due to the act of 'free spirits' and changes within society. It appears that although backpacking involves staying in youth hostels, travelling 'off the beaten track', symbolising 'rough living', interacting with local residents and adapting to local culture, women are just as adventurous and active as men.

Generally speaking, the motivations for these particular journeys are often the most important aspect for women backpackers, as they tend to guide and persuade individuals to take part in activities sometimes out of their 'comfort zone'. For example, this may sometimes be other solo individuals with the same risky perceptions. Your paper made a good suggestive comment by stating that "The motivation for women travelling alone could be explained by using Maslow's theory of motivation where the needs of the tourist are in order according to their motivational strength. Psychological, safety, belongingness needs are considered as lower motivational needs whereas self-esteem and self-actualisation are higher needs. According to a study women have higher motivational needs than men indicating that women seek to find a sense of self-confidence, empowerment and resistance to the traditional roles when travelling". This point was very relevant and demonstrated a good source of information.

Furthermore, the aspect of risk often plays a big part in solo travelling. According to Hunter-Jones et al, (2007) cf Cater, (2006), risk plays an increasingly important element for the modern societies, while providing something exceptional. And as seen in many different occasions, the concept is manufactured into nearly everything and anything. It is portrayed that participants generally accept the presence of risk, while taking part in different activities, and that the value of it, is an important factor to grasp. Many solo travellers plan to go alone because they feel their reasons for travelling are their own and unique to them, and them only. In addition, often, many people don't feel that the single awakening experience of adventure is so emotionally charged if they occupy company. Alongside this, research shows that the feeling of excitement and fear, the adrenaline, all the anonymous faces, unattached memories and having no agenda is also why backpackers decide to travel alone.

This paper was very well structured and shared a lot of relevant information within the text. However you could have used more references within the text to demonstrate your understanding of this topic.

References used:
Meethan K, et al (2006). Tourism consumption and representation: narratives of place and self. CAB publishing
Women can be adventurous?
Author: Kayleigh Ormanroyd
I have chosen to comment on Liisa's paper because the study of women's involvement in tourism is of great interest to me.

My own paper discusses a woman's role in the tourism industry as a whole covering the controversy over women deciding to travel alone but Liisa's paper is far more detailed on this topic and she has used several relevant sources including Maslow's theory of motivation which is a strong model that creates a basis to a very good study.

A woman making the decision to travel solo is a topic of great controversy with many authors such as Hall and Kinnard (1990) going on to say that it is almost incredulous that women would wish to and could survive without a man. This is an incredibly bold statement with connotations of out of date stereotyping and prejudice but who can blame them for having these views when the way in which women are portrayed in the tourism industry through the media is also outdated. Chafetz, Lorence and Larosa (1993) feel that images of women in mass media continue to be portrayed in their 'traditional stereotypical' roles for example domestic, sexy, helpless, non-competitive, shy and passive. These ranges of images create preconceptions of women and their ability to travel alone. Liisa also portrays the motivations for women travelling alone with coincides with the literature I found by wearing (1998) who suggest that leisure travel may be a "heterotopia" in which women may 'rewrite the script of what it is to be a woman' this displays that independent travelling by women may be more than just taking a break but a way in which they seek their real identities. Liisa develops her study further by including adventure tourism which is a very relevant type of tourism in solo travelling. If the image of women portrayed in the media is to be believed then the idea of women participating in adventure tourism would also be full of scrutiny.
Literature by Kain and King (2004) suggest that women were more prominent on the backpacker circuit with demographic results showing that females tend to be more highly represented in the backpacker market and further estimates suggest that in the first years of the new millennium, half of all business travellers will be female, popcorn and Marigold (2000). This is proof of the importance of women in the solo travelling circuit and that despite controversy they do choose to take risks and this will only increase in the future.

I enjoyed the way Liisa concluded her study leaving many things to think about whilst emphasising how women travelling across the boundaries of convention and traditional feminine constraints has increased female empowerment and showed that women do not need men to survive.

Aaker, D. A, Bruzzone, D. E (1985). Causes of irritation in advertising, Journal of marketing, 49 (2) 50-52.

Pink, Sarah (2004). Home truths; Gender, domestic objects and everyday life. Oxford: Berg. 81-87.

Sirakaya, E, Sonmez, S. (2000). Gender Images in State Tourism Brochures: An overlooked Area in Socially Responsible Tourism Marketing. Journal of travel research. 38 (1), 353-354.
Women can be adventurous?
Author: Kayleigh Ormanroyd
I have chosen to comment on Liisa's paper because the study of women's involvement in tourism is of great interest to me.

My own paper discusses a woman's role in the tourism industry as a whole covering the controversy over women deciding to travel alone but Liisa's paper is far more detailed on this topic and she has used several relevant sources including Maslow's theory of motivation which is a strong model that creates a basis to a very good study.

A woman making the decision to travel solo is a topic of great controversy with many authors such as Hall and Kinnard (1990) going on to say that it is almost incredulous that women would wish to and could survive without a man. This is an incredibly bold statement with connotations of out of date stereotyping and prejudice but who can blame them for having these views when the way in which women are portrayed in the tourism industry through the media is also outdated. Chafetz, Lorence and Larosa (1993) feel that images of women in mass media continue to be portrayed in their 'traditional stereotypical' roles for example domestic, sexy, helpless, non-competitive, shy and passive. These ranges of images create preconceptions of women and their ability to travel alone. Liisa also portrays the motivations for women travelling alone with coincides with the literature I found by wearing (1998) who suggest that leisure travel may be a "heterotopia" in which women may 'rewrite the script of what it is to be a woman' this displays that independent travelling by women may be more than just taking a break but a way in which they seek their real identities. Liisa develops her study further by including adventure tourism which is a very relevant type of tourism in solo travelling. If the image of women portrayed in the media is to be believed then the idea of women participating in adventure tourism would also be full of scrutiny.

Literature by Kain and King (2004) suggest that women were more prominent on the backpacker circuit with demographic results showing that females tend to be more highly represented in the backpacker market and further estimates suggest that in the first years of the new millennium, half of all business travellers will be female, popcorn and Marigold (2000). This is proof of the importance of women in the solo travelling circuit and that despite controversy they do choose to take risks and this will only increase in the future.

I enjoyed the way Liisa concluded her study leaving many things to think about whilst emphasising how women travelling across the boundaries of convention and traditional feminine constraints has increased female empowerment and showed that women do not need men to survive.

Aaker, D. A, Bruzzone, D. E (1985). Causes of irritation in advertising, Journal of marketing, 49 (2) 50-52.

Pink, Sarah (2004). Home truths; Gender, domestic objects and everyday life. Oxford: Berg. 81-87.

Sirakaya, E, Sonmez, S. (2000). Gender Images in State Tourism Brochures: An overlooked Area in Socially Responsible Tourism Marketing. Journal of travel research. 38 (1), 353-354.