Risk, Loneliness, and Empowerment: An Autoethnographic Exploration of Female Solo Travel in Venice

Abstract:
This autoethnographic study explores the emotional and psychological dimensions of solo female travel through a personal journey in Venice, Italy. By reflecting on themes of risk, loneliness, and empowerment, the study reveals how solo travel can simultaneously challenge and reinforce gendered experiences, ultimately fostering personal growth and agency.

Keywords: Solo female travel, Empowerment


In recent years, the rise of female solo travellers has become a significant trend in the tourism industry. While solo female travel has become increasingly common, research in this area also examines the challenges and potential risks associated with it. Neluhena et al. (2023) examined how solo female travelers navigate loneliness and cultural perceptions while traveling. Their findings highlight both the empowering and isolating aspects of solo travel. These insights help position solo female tourism as not only a leisure choice, but also a site where gendered experiences of mobility, emotion, and identity come into play.

Building upon these existing studies, this report examines my own experiences as a solo female traveller in Venice, Italy, to explore how they connect to broader research on female solo travel. Through an autoethnographic approach, I reflect on how my personal experiences align with or differ from themes such as fear, risk perception, loneliness, and empowerment. By analyzing my emotional and psychological responses, I hope to shed light on the wider cultural and social forces that shape what it means for women to travel alone.

This study employs autoethnography, following Chang’s (2016) understanding of it as a research method that blends self-narrative with cultural interpretation. My analysis draws on personal materials from my solo trip to Venice in 2022, including photographs and message exchanges with family members. These were examined using Reflective Narrative Analysis, a method that invites emotional depth and introspection. Out of this process, I identified several key themes, three of which are discussed in this paper: risk and constraint, loneliness, and empowerment.

My experience reflects the ongoing negotiation between vulnerability and independence. I encountered moments of fear, particularly when navigating male attention in unfamiliar settings. These moments often led to internalized self-blame or hyper-vigilance, limiting my freedom. At other times, I felt unexpectedly isolated, especially when surrounded by groups or families. Yet, as Neluhena et al. (2023) note, loneliness can also provide space for reflection and reconnection. Calling my mother during a low moment helped me feel grounded again. Most importantly, I found that small acts—ordering food alone, solving a problem, asking for directions—gradually built a sense of empowerment. As Yang, Khoo-Lattimore, and Arcodia (2018) argue, solo travel empowers women by fostering autonomy and confidence through overcoming challenges independently.

Solo female travel, while accompanied by challenges such as fear, risk, and loneliness, can also offer transformative opportunities for empowerment and personal growth. Through my own experience in Venice, I encountered moments of vulnerability that mirrored themes found in existing literature. However, these experiences also allowed me to gain confidence, resilience, and a deeper understanding of myself. Autoethnography revealed how even small acts of independence during travel can contribute to a woman’s sense of agency. Research supports that solo travel enhances well-being, self-awareness, and empowerment, aligning with the broader social aim of gender equality. Despite the emotional and social constraints faced, women who travel alone challenge traditional gender roles and redefine what it means to be independent. My journey demonstrated that solo travel is not only about the destination, but also about the personal transformation that unfolds along the way. Ultimately, empowering solo travel experiences like mine highlight the potential of tourism as a platform for supporting women’s self-discovery and strengthening their roles in society.


References:
Chang, H. (2016). Autoethnography in Health Research. Qualitative Health Research, 26(4) 443–451. Available from https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732315627432 [accessed 15 May 2025].

Neluhena, M Chandralal, L and Dahanayake, T (2023). Female solo travels to south Asian destinations and sustaining loneliness. Tourism and Hospitality Research. Available from https://doi.org/10.1177/14673584231173508 [accessed 15 May 2025].

Yang, E.C.L., Khoo-Lattimore, C. and Arcodia, C. (2018). Power and empowerment: How Asian solo female travellers perceive and negotiate risks.?Tourism Management, 32–45. Available from https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2018.02.017 [accessed 15 May 2025].

This paper is a compelling narrative on the experience of solo female travel. In light of the growing popularity of solo female travel in recent years, this paper builds on complex themes of risk and constraint, loneliness and empowerment, and applies a personal reflection to develop a comprehensive exploration of the female solo traveller experience. The autoethnographic approach to the topic encourages emotional engagement with the audience and creates an inviting space for personal reflection. Akin to this, the application of a Reflective Narrative Analysis strengthens the authenticity and credibility of the interpretations shared, helping to build an impactful insight into personal lived experience. The academic literature applied, for example, Neluhena et al. (2023) develops on the psychological challenges of female solo travel and has been applied in this paper to support the author’s personal reflections of gendered experience and emotion during solo travel. Furthermore, I found that the paper’s commentary on overcoming personal challenges and building confidence in spite of the obstacles faced really strengthened the personal contribution to the research and created a sense of awareness for myself. As someone who has previously experienced travelling as a solo male, it was particularly interesting to understand the experience from a female perspective, and it encouraged me to reflect on my own experience.

Moreover, I believe that this study would benefit from the inclusion of a comparative analysis of other solo female traveller experiences. Introducing a comparison of autoethnographies with other solo female travellers would help to bridge the gap in research and build value in the observations and conclusions made (Simmons and Smith, 2019).

Overall, this paper is a powerful reflection of personal lived experience and harnesses strength in its emotional resonance and personal reflection with the reader. As female solo travel continues to rise, this topic would benefit from further research into the complexities of the themes explored and could be achieved through comparative ethnographies.


Neluhena, M., Chandralal, L. and Dahanayake, T. (2023) Female solo travels to south Asian destinations and sustaining loneliness. Tourism and Hospitality Research, 24(4) 557-587. Available from https://doi.org/10.1177/14673584231173508 [accessed 20 May 2025].

Simmons, E. and Smith, N. (2019) The Case for Comparative Ethnography. Comparative Politics, 51(3) 341–359. Available from https://doi.org/10.5129/001041519X15647434969920 [accessed 20 May 2025].

This comment is going to further examine the challenge and transition women experience when travelling solo.

Although women may have their own individual reasons for traveling, there are often notable similarities in their motivations (Pereira and Silva, 2018). These usually include adventure, social interactions, education and self-understanding (Pereira and Silva, 2018). However, as mentioned in the discussion, women face a variety of challenges in meeting set expectations. This is due to the feeling of being unsafe, especially in male-dominated areas and isolated places, or during specific times of the day, particularly evening or night, when there is a higher risk of violence and sexual harassment (Wilson and Little, 2008). Therefore, women who travel solo can face limitations regarding visiting specific attractions or destinations. This leads to the point that women have to spend more time researching and planning their trip in advance to avoid any risky situations that may result in negative consequences.

While the author of the paper might not have had the intention to travel to an unknown country to escape daily life or to develop a sense of autonomy, as is common among female solo travellers (Pereira and Silva, 2018), it is evident that the trip allowed the author to step out of their comfort zone, develop resilience, gain confidence and achieve a certain level of self-transformation. Therefore, this can represent a valuable example for the development of female solo-travel tourism and potentially contribute to promoting gender equality (Wilson and Harris, 2006). For instance, creating designated spaces specifically for women who travel solo or organising certain events can enable women to feel safer in unfamiliar destinations.

Furthermore, while this paper provides the author’s experience, which many women can relate to, it could also benefit from offering suggestions on how to manage feelings of vulnerability or fear, or indicating which places might be best avoided based on personal experience. This could assist readers in planning their trips more effectively or managing stress during solo travel.


References

Pereira, A. and Silva, C. (2018) Women solo travellers: motivations and experiences. Millenium - Journal of Education, Technologies, and Health, 2(6), 99–106. Available from: https://doi.org/10.29352/mill0206.09.00165 [Accessed 22 May 2025].

Wilson, E. and Little, D.E. (2008) The Solo Female Travel Experience: Exploring the ‘Geography of Women’s Fear’. Current Issues in Tourism, 11(2), 167–186. Available from: https://doi.org/10.2167/cit342.0 [Accessed 22 May 2025].

Wilson, E. and Harris, C. (2006) Meaningful travel: Women, independent travel and the search for self and meaning. Tourism: An International Interdisciplinary Journal, 54(2), 161–172. Available from: https://hrcak.srce.hr/161466 [Accessed 22 May 2025].