Traveling Alone as a Female (GIVEAWAY!)

Guest Article by Meghan Miller

During my senior year of high school I was voted Most Likely to Travel the World. Some might argue that was because I ditched the entire month of April to safari/SCUBA dive my way through South Africa.  Not the best timing, I know…but fear not! I still graduated (barely).

Ubud, Bali

Now, at the age of 22, I’ve traveled to 6/7 continents and lived abroad for nearly half a year.  From spending evenings chatting with monks to summiting glaciers and cage-diving with Great Whites, I’ve always felt the most “Meghan” while exploring new places and perspectives.  I am incredibly grateful for the privilege of immersing myself in the beauty of cultures different from my own and truly believe that these experiences have shaped my overall growth and outlook on life [*Insert annoying voice: “Abroad changed me”.... But like actually though]

While my time spent traveling has been more than incredible, it has also come with a variety of challenges and difficulties -- a substantial portion deriving from my female identity.  The fact that my personal safety can often be a concern while traveling in foreign countries is definitely a testament to the work to be done for equal human rights and treatment on a global scale.  Despite my heightened caution and alertness, I, like many fellow female travelers, refuse to let my identity rob me of my independence. I have and will continue to travel as a solo female wherever and whenever I please.  More than this, I have met some of my best girlfriends abroad and shared some of my most treasured moments with them in countries where many argue “girls shouldn’t travel alone.” To those people, I say FUCK that! Travel has given me my identity and helped me find my people -- my ability to see the world as I please is something that I will never compromise.

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Because I believe in the importance of both self-discovery and the development of empathy through global travel, I have become increasingly more interested in breaking down barriers to travel, specifically through a feminist lens.  In pouring through extensive data as well as talking to countless friends, family members, and fellow adventure enthusiasts, I’ve found that the number one barrier to female travel is safety. As a result, I have made it a personal goal to alleviate this specific stress as much as possible in an effort to allow women to retake their independence in exploring the world.

Fox Glacier, New Zealand

As I continue my research into this topic, I would greatly appreciate your input! To help restore autonomy to future generations of female travelers, please take 5 minutes to fill out this survey for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card!

Feel free to reach out to me at meghan.i.miller@vanderbilt.edu with any further questions, concerns, or additional feedback/suggestions/personal stories that you may have. 

Thanks babes! <3

XO,

Meghan Miller