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
Women are amazing! Here are 10 that shaped the way we travel. March 4
It's Fat Tuesday! Happy Mardi Gras! Let's look at the history of all-women krewes during this celebratory time, because for the most part, it has always been dominated by men. 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
Women make up a majority of solo travelers, so I thought it might be fun to give you 5 tips on how to do your best solo travel, no matter your gender. March 8
We can learn a lot from travel, but we can also learn a lot from travelers who came before us, like these three iconic women that lived their dream of traveling the world, even when the world thought they should stay at home. 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
As a woman, it's always wonderful to me to travel and learn about women who made history wherever I am. Women were told to stay home and cook and clean and take care of the kids they may or may not have wanted to have. While life is not perfect for women now, imagine how much harder it was to have almost zero opportunities to have a job, own property, or even travel. Take your own trip inspired by one of these amazing women, including the first female self-made millionaire in Indianapolis. March 11
Did you grow up with a profound interest in Egypt? Many of us went through that phase in life. Some are truly lucky enough to keep that interest and turn it into a job. In the 1800s, a trio of women forever changed the study and understanding of ancient Egypt. So, why don't we ever hear about them? March 12
Marie Grosholtz, better known as Madame Tussaud, broke the mold of what women should be by indulging in her love of art. She particularly made death masks and at one point was forced to make realistic wax renderings of decapitated aristocrats. Her ability to find her niche, follow her dream, and be unaffected by death really helped her become a household name. If you want to learn more about her, check out Atlas Obscura's podcast episode on Madame Tussaud (Feb 29, 2024). March 13
The perspective of women in travel has evolved over time, as many things do, but learn how this view has changed through history. March 14
With March being Women’s History Month, it’s only right to celebrate a few Black women making history right now. These ladies are making major moves in the travel sphere, setting the tone for more diversity and keeping Black travelers informed on tourism developments. March 15
It can be scary to travel alone as a woman, but that doesn't mean you should keep that from going. Here are some tips on how to feel safer. March 16
It’s not just pharaohs that had large Egyptian burials. In fact, the most lavish Mesopotamian tomb ever found belongs to a woman. March 17
Women are traveling more than ever before – with partners, in groups, and even solo – so it was about time they had a travel festival just for them. Beth from Wanderful not only advocates for more women in travel, but created a dedicated space for them, both online and off. March 18
If you’re a woman traveling alone, you’re probably wondering what are some of the best destinations to go to alone, especially if you’re just starting out. March 19
Women who travel together have a special bond and often feel more relaxed and safer on a group tour. So, what are the other benefits of traveling on a women-only tour?
March 20
“If equality is a journey, then it should come as no surprise that passports have helped American women to cross some of society’s most entrenched cultural borders for more than a century.” Check out these 1920s women who fought to get women their OWN passports to travel on their own.
March 21
”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
Women permeate every facet of travel and tourism. If you’re looking to visit Napa, you can book a Women In Wine tasting, where you learn about the women behind some of your favorite wines. (You can find these tours in other wine regions, like the Willamette Valley in Oregon, too.) 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
