One thing that makes female solo travel far less freeing, reinvigorating, and, frankly, enjoyable is the treatment that we receive from the opposite sex.

It is essential to be aware that some cultures are more traditional, although this post is not about that. Because there have been a couple of occasions where I don’t think anyone could justify what occurred. 

I am not writing this out of self-pity, but rather pure feminine rage. However, I chose to gather my thoughts to see if other women can relate, whether they are solo travellers or not. I also wish to discuss my desire to continue solo travelling, despite the risks.

What ‘happened’?

Envision this. You are strolling through the markets on a sunny Saturday morning. Then, all of a sudden, there’s a man behind you who seems to be getting relatively close. He says hello, so you return a wan smile, then head in a different direction. Easy escape. Until you feel him behind you again. Before you get the chance to embark on your next move, he calls you pretty and asks why you’re alone. You blankly ignore him and continue with your day. Twice seems a bit odd. But the third time, he just appeared. Perhaps there was a snide hello, but I don’t really remember. So I headed into a shop and stayed inside for around 10 minutes before he finally buggered off. 

This has not been the only occasion on which something of that level had occurred. Although nothing that I had experienced compares to what some people go through, it still dampened my spirits and made me feel less safe.

Solo travel and victim blaming

I anticipate some people telling me that it is occurring because I am travelling by myself, meaning that I will be perceived as an ‘easy target’. It is not too dissimilar from people stating that women ‘ask for it’ because of how they dress. 

Why victim blaming makes no sense

If a young man walked down the beach wearing just a pair of tight Speedos, how likely would it be for a group of older, wine-cackling women to start shouting slurs at him? Or for that matter, for an older woman to begin following him down the street? 
For those reasons, it is unlikely that a man would hesitate to leave the house at night. 

But if anyone was mugged at night, most people would still blame the perpetrator rather than the ‘victim. The double standards infringed upon this are an enormous part of the problem itself. 

I have met many men and women whilst solo travelling. I am delighted that women dare to solo travel, amongst other things, despite the impediments that come with it. 

Why I continue to solo travel despite these setbacks 

There are so many other gals out there, so I don’t really feel alone. My experiences are far from unique, and knowing that different women have the courage to solo travel motivates me to continue. I would also hate to let setbacks like these prevent me from living the life I want.

There are millions of women worldwide who would love to travel, whether solo or otherwise, yet lack the freedom or means to do so. This way, I want to use my privilege and only hope that female travel will become more accessible in time. 

How do you manage? (Asking for a friend) 

At the moment, I don’t know how to react. Depending on the context, I tend to either completely ignore it or, if they are directly interacting with me, I will act politely and have an escape plan just to be on the safe side. 

However, I’m not sure whether that’s correct. It feels so tempting to retaliate, scream back, or bark at them. I also fear that it would cause escalation. 

How would you deal with experiences relating to sexual harassment when travelling? I would appreciate hearing your thoughts in the comments. 

Addressing the bigger picture

These personal experiences are clearly part of a much broader problem. Sexual harassment, sexual violence, and patriarchal ‘structures’ remain prevalent, and there is still a notable taboo attached.

All female solo travellers are contributing to positive change. If women before me had not chosen to solo travel, I would have lacked the courage. 

Speaking up for yourself and discussing challenges you face, even within your circle of friends, will always be constructive. That is because sharing the experiences helps us continue to stand up for one another and to stand up against what’s wrong. 

There are also ways to support women during solo travelling. I have provided a link to an article that features various community-led tourism initiatives, all of which are run by women. Supporting female-owned businesses, listening to women’s stories, and potentially volunteering abroad are good ways to support women. Although there is some nuance with the last suggestion, as some initiatives unfortunately displace local workers.

Finally, thank you for reading the post. It has definitely been one of my more ranty ones, but it was about something that I had been wishing to discuss for a while. The focus of this blog includes posts like this, as well as those that address the ethical issues surrounding travel. If you are interested, please subscribe to stay up-to-date on future content.

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