Women's History Month Round Up

As you know, March is Women’s History Month and I’ve been doing quite a bit of research into women who made, and are making, history in the travel world. Women are the majority of travelers and make most of the decisions about where to go and what to do. It’s just one of the many pieces of emotional labor that is part of our lives. 

We have had to fight for every right we have, including getting passports separate from a husband – they used to just say “and wife” like a plus one on a wedding invitation – and proving ourselves as independent and worthy travel companions. So, this month I really wanted to showcase women who have carved out a space for themselves in the travel industry, paving the way for the rest of us, and those making their own history right now. This is a round-up of the daily posts I made on Facebook to celebrate those women:

March 1

After traveling to every country in the world, the fearless Jessica Nabongo opens up about her biggest takeaways, favorite underrated destinations, and what it’s like to be a solo Black female traveler.

March 2

Today seems like a good time to post this: There are many women who have been pioneers in one aspect of travel or another including these women of our National Parks Service.

March 3

March 4

March 5

Women are doing great things all over the globe, and nowhere is this more apparent than in the Japan food scene. These women are literally leading foodie and bar culture.

March 6

Women make history every day. If you wan to travel to places where important things happened, check out the ‘Travel Where Women Made History‘ page, so you can add places whenever you travel.

March 7

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March 9

“Despite obstacles, an increasing number of women are creating opportunities for themselves in tourism, and that creates opportunities for us as travelers: we can support women’s economic empowerment as we explore the world.”

March 10

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March 20

”If I search “female traveler,” the results prove completely devoid of diversity, race, age, body type, or personality. The photos paint a picture; one that seems to say traveling is limited to the young, beautiful, and white.” The travel industry somehow excludes the diversity of real-world women travelers.

March 22

March 23

Women are badass, and never is that more apparent than when they are protecting something they love. You may have heard of the Black Mambas in South Africa, but there is also the Akashinga in Zimbabwe and Team Lioness in Kenya. These all-female anti-poaching teams protect their country’s most important and endangered animals, while also redefining ecofeminism and promoting gender equality.

March 24

If you’re a woman who travels alone, congratulations! You’re making travel history right now. Women are redefining travel and are doing things the way they want to do it and not waiting for a partner, friend, or for the trip to make it out of the group chat. And women over 50 are embarking more and more on adventure tourism, too.

March 25

Since we know women are redefining travel, we also know how much of an impact our travel has been and can be. With the majority of women making the travel decisions (80%) and being travelers (2/3 of all travelers), these 5 women in tourism show us how we can make travel better for ourselves and the future.  

March 26

In the 1800s, Nantucket was home to more history-making woman than most other places in the country. To honor some of those inspiring females, each of four new suites at the Jared Coffin House are named after influential women from the area, including Anna Gardner, instrumental in calling an anti-slavery meeting in 1841; and Lucretia Coffin Mott, who participated in the country’s first meeting about women’s rights in 1848.

March 27

“Walk in the footsteps of the women who made Harlem the cultural capital it’s venerated for on the Radical Black Women of Harlem Walking Tour.” This tour takes you through the lives of Billie Holiday, Audre Lorde, and other women who shaped the Harlem Renaissance. 

March 28

In a lot of ways, Portland is very progressive. We have women’s soccer, we might be getting a women’s basketball team, we have tons of women in business, we support the queer community as best as we know how. In fact, Jenny Nguyen is pulling all of those things together in the city. She has opened the nation’s first women’s sports bar called The Sports Bra. It has been so successful, you can often not get in, and she’s now helping other women in the U.S. open their own. 

March 29 

Women who were strong enough to blaze trails when they had little to no rights if they weren’t rich are fascinating to me. They were willing to risk everything to do things they wanted and I guess the worst thing that could happen was being told they weren’t allowed to do it and sent to jail, so they went for it. These 5 women did their own thing and made history for themselves.

March 30

I travel alone sometimes and it can be scary, depending on where you are, but don’t let that stop you from being a trailblazer in your own right. Learn some tricks on how to be safe on a solo road trip. I always let other people know where I am and check in regularly. I mean, we want to make history and not be history.

March 31

Don’t forget that supporting women- and minority-owned businesses is always a win-win. We uplift those that need it and celebrate their successes as a success for the community. Here are some more amazing women in the travel sphere right now.

Tell me your favorite woman-owned business, woman-friendly travel destination, or woman-owned/developed travel product

Want to read more tips for traveling worldwide on a budget? Check out my blog at Shereen Travels Cheap or find me on Facebook or Twitter. You’ll also find product and website suggestions, packing tips, current deals and a whole lot more to help you travel better for less!