A Latin-American perspective, woman to woman.
When you are a Latin-American one of our greatest fears in life is related to being a woman. It might sound weird but is very true. Our daily routines are filled with many situations that man could never imagine.
Sadly sexism is everywhere around here. Street harassment (including from the public force that should protect you), unrest at public transportation, stereotypes, women judging women all the time, homophobic behaviors, sexism at job interviews, sexism at work… Now if we talk about relationships is not every day that you meet people that actually believe in sharing the housework, the bills and the responsibilities of having a family (if you want to), in an equal way. We don’t look for help, we look for equality in every area of our lives.
When you are a Latin-American woman and you decide to travel alone we are obligated to face some fears that men normally don’t need to… for example something very simple: deciding what side of the street to take by observing if there is any man walking to your direction or not. It is very stressful… especially when you watch and read the news about femicides, violations, robberies, etc. Sometimes that can be an important factor in deciding whether to travel or not to a specific destination.
What is our biggest concern? Security. Are we gonna be respected as a solo traveler being a girl? Are there more women traveling alone or am I going to be the only one? Should I get a private tour with that male tour guide? Should I go alone to that national park? Should I stay till late at this nice party? Am I gonna get home safe if I take a cab? And many more…
Once when talking about Policarpa Salavarrieta’s story (Colombian heroine during Independence) to a group of Norwegian girls I said: “So, imagine, if being a woman in Latin-America is not easy at this moment, imagine back in 1816…”. After that explanation one of the girls came to me in a very sweet and naive way to ask: “Why did you say that is not easy to be a woman nowadays in Latin-America?”. I took a breath and explained to her why. After that moment I realized something obvious, culture is what determines the role of women in society, and whether they are treated equally or not.
That is why traveling is so important to inspire, empower and make an impact on each one of us!
Fortunately the movement of women who travel — and travel alone — is growing and growing. Being able to travel alone and go back home safe with lots of good memories and new friends is a right to men and women alike. According to a recent article published by Forbes, the travel industry is increasingly developing female-focused trips that can have a life-changing impact not only on us, travelers but on other women around the world.
Once we understand tourism as a way to express ourselves to the world and to support important causes anywhere you go, we also understand how important is to impact women through this activity. Women who travel can empower other solo travelers and especially the local women that fight for their rights, their communities and their future. The impact is the main word over here.
Well, if we want to grasp why we see more and more women traveling nowadays, we need to look back some decades and remember why we enjoy these basic rights that now seem so common. It is never a cliché to remember what the International Women’s Day represents to us.
International Women’s Day, before known as Day of Working Women, commemorates the struggle of women for their participation (on the basis of equality of opportunities that are often smaller compared to those of the man) in society and in their integral development as a person. This day was predominantly celebrated by the socialist movement and communist countries until it was adopted in 1975 by the United Nations.
The female vote in my country was adopted in 1932 and incorporated into the Constitution of 1934 as a facultative. My great grandmother could vote and not just that, she was an activist. I am so thankful for those women that fought for us to live in a more equal society today. We should always remember them and their cause, so we can keep fighting for a more balanced society (Check this page: https://www.internationalwomensday.com/ and understand the #balanceforbetter campaign).
Traveling is a way to keep improving our rights as women worldwide. Traveling is a type of activism that can change our perspective and promote real change when we are open to meet new realities and people.
All I wish this 8M is more traveling for us, more purpose and more positive impact. I hope we can get more inspired each trip, hope we can meet each other somewhere traveling for Justice, traveling for our future and traveling for change. The future is going to be female!
Me as a solo traveler at Tayrona National Park — can’t wait for the next!“If you don’t go after what you want, you’ll never have it. If you don’t ask, the answer is always no. If you don’t step forward, you are always in the same place.” -Nora Roberts
Andréia Simas
06 março 2019
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