Solo Female Travel: Exploring the ‘Then and Now’
Author: Melanie Towning
2 Commentries
Since the twentieth century, numerous social and political changes have allowed females to participate in solo travels (Harris and Wilson, 2006) and, in recent years, solo travel has been an increasing trend among women (McNamara and Prideaux, 2010). The main motivations for solo female travellers were found to include the desire to challenge themselves and to increase their self-awareness (Little and Wilson, 2008; McNamara and Prideaux, 2010). However, a lack of literature concerning how it ‘was’ like to be a solo female traveller in the 1980s compared to how it ‘is’ like to be a solo female traveller in the present day outlines the purpose of this research.
1 semi-structured interview was conducted for this research, which involved a 59-year-old female who has travelled solo since 1970. Lasting 30 minutes, the interview had a set skeleton plan which contained core questions to ask the interviewee, which was elaborated on as the conversation flowed. Thematic coding was used to analyse the interview, which identified two key trends to be the safety and vulnerability of solo female travellers and the perceptions other people have on solo female travellers.
Regarding the safety and vulnerability of solo female travellers, one of the key findings within the interview established that the interviewee had no worries when travelling solo in past years. However, as time has gone by the interviewee has had increasing fears of travelling alone. Little and Wilson (2008) originally highlighted that females who feel vulnerable when travelling solo often find that the individuals struggle in enjoying their travel experiences and often avoid places or destinations they feel could put them in danger. The interviewee emphasised this when she expressed how she never used to worry or think twice about walking down side roads, but now feels she must be more aware of potential dangers and situations.
The perceptions of solo female travellers were also found to have some differences from 1970 to the present day. The interviewee expressed that, although her mother was worried about her travelling solo, her dad encouraged this and wanted her to experience and achieve new destinations. Little and Wilson (2008) originally discussed that female travellers were perceived to be inferior the male travellers and that the perceptions of others often limit solo female travellers in achieving their desired travel goal. However, the interviewee seemed to go against the literature and instead be excited and enthusiastic about travelling alone. The interviewee further explained how her friends and family often worry about her daughters travelling alone, but the interviewee ensures her daughters are aware of dangers.
Overall, the key findings regarding the safety and vulnerability of solo female travellers found that in 1980 there were not as many threats or worries as opposed to the present day. Therefore, feeling vulnerable is a common theme among solo female travellers (Little and Wilson, 2008). The interview furthermore found that a key motivation for solo female travellers was to increase their self-awareness and experience new destinations (Harris and Wilson, 2006; McNamara and Prideaux, 2010). The interviewee elaborated on this research because concerns of safety were never an issue when she first started travelling, and instead wanted to experience as much as she could on her own. The perceptions from others regarding solo female travellers found that, in the past, there were no worries. This is emphasised when the interviewee explained how her father told her to “just go”. In the present day, however, many people are concerned for solo female travellers, possibly due to the perception that females are classed to be inferior to males and cannot defend themselves in dangerous situations (Little and Wilson, 2008). The interviewee expressed that she herself would have worries of travelling alone in the present day, but said it is important to be aware of surroundings to avoid such dangers.
List of References
Harris, C. and Wilson, E. (2006) Meaningful Travel: Women, Independent Travel and the Search for Self and Meaning. Tourism, 54(2) 161-172.
Little, D. E. and Wilson, E. (2008) The Solo Female Travel Experience: Exploring the ‘Geography of Women’s Fear’. Current Issues in Tourism, 11(2) 167-186.
McNamara, K. E. and Prideaux, B. (2010) A Typology of Solo Independent Women Travellers. International Journal of Tourism Research, 12 253-264.
1 semi-structured interview was conducted for this research, which involved a 59-year-old female who has travelled solo since 1970. Lasting 30 minutes, the interview had a set skeleton plan which contained core questions to ask the interviewee, which was elaborated on as the conversation flowed. Thematic coding was used to analyse the interview, which identified two key trends to be the safety and vulnerability of solo female travellers and the perceptions other people have on solo female travellers.
Regarding the safety and vulnerability of solo female travellers, one of the key findings within the interview established that the interviewee had no worries when travelling solo in past years. However, as time has gone by the interviewee has had increasing fears of travelling alone. Little and Wilson (2008) originally highlighted that females who feel vulnerable when travelling solo often find that the individuals struggle in enjoying their travel experiences and often avoid places or destinations they feel could put them in danger. The interviewee emphasised this when she expressed how she never used to worry or think twice about walking down side roads, but now feels she must be more aware of potential dangers and situations.
The perceptions of solo female travellers were also found to have some differences from 1970 to the present day. The interviewee expressed that, although her mother was worried about her travelling solo, her dad encouraged this and wanted her to experience and achieve new destinations. Little and Wilson (2008) originally discussed that female travellers were perceived to be inferior the male travellers and that the perceptions of others often limit solo female travellers in achieving their desired travel goal. However, the interviewee seemed to go against the literature and instead be excited and enthusiastic about travelling alone. The interviewee further explained how her friends and family often worry about her daughters travelling alone, but the interviewee ensures her daughters are aware of dangers.
Overall, the key findings regarding the safety and vulnerability of solo female travellers found that in 1980 there were not as many threats or worries as opposed to the present day. Therefore, feeling vulnerable is a common theme among solo female travellers (Little and Wilson, 2008). The interview furthermore found that a key motivation for solo female travellers was to increase their self-awareness and experience new destinations (Harris and Wilson, 2006; McNamara and Prideaux, 2010). The interviewee elaborated on this research because concerns of safety were never an issue when she first started travelling, and instead wanted to experience as much as she could on her own. The perceptions from others regarding solo female travellers found that, in the past, there were no worries. This is emphasised when the interviewee explained how her father told her to “just go”. In the present day, however, many people are concerned for solo female travellers, possibly due to the perception that females are classed to be inferior to males and cannot defend themselves in dangerous situations (Little and Wilson, 2008). The interviewee expressed that she herself would have worries of travelling alone in the present day, but said it is important to be aware of surroundings to avoid such dangers.
List of References
Harris, C. and Wilson, E. (2006) Meaningful Travel: Women, Independent Travel and the Search for Self and Meaning. Tourism, 54(2) 161-172.
Little, D. E. and Wilson, E. (2008) The Solo Female Travel Experience: Exploring the ‘Geography of Women’s Fear’. Current Issues in Tourism, 11(2) 167-186.
McNamara, K. E. and Prideaux, B. (2010) A Typology of Solo Independent Women Travellers. International Journal of Tourism Research, 12 253-264.