Publication of study: What if travelling alone encouraged empowerment?

An innovative study by Magali Trelohan, Associate Professor of Marketing at EM Normandie Business School, and Joëlle Lagier and Nathalie Montargot, professor-researchers, explores the impact of solo backpacking on women's empowerment. And what if travelling alone made you stronger?

A study to understand the popularity and impact of this form of travel on women

ver the last two decades, independent tourism, characterised by a quest for authenticity and enriching personal experiences, has grown significantly. According to figures from the World Tourism Organisation, the number of women who dare to take to the road has risen from 54 million in 2014 to 138 million in 2017, and 37% of travellers choose to go it alone. More and more of them are women. his phenomenon is particularly noticeable among women who choose to travel alone, adopting solo backpacking as a means of personal exploration. his study shows how these travel experiences encourage and develop women's empowerment, i.e. a gain of power in their everyday lives and changes in their identity.

Effects on women that go beyond the objectives of the trip

The results of the study reveal the existence of three main areas of identity-building: self-discovery, sharing and confronting risks and fears, thanks to the discovery of the world and other cultures.
In addition, there are three forms of empowerment during solo trips:

1. Growing: they seek to experience their trip spontaneously, which develops their self-confidence, autonomy and ability to adapt, thereby fostering their personal growth and maturity.
2. Recovering: travelling alone helps backpackers to overcome difficult periods in their lives, such as a break-up in love, offering a form of therapy, a new personal dynamic, and major psychological transformations, helping them to become more autonomous and to break free from rigidity and social norms.
3. Seeing the world differently: travel allows backpackers to take a step back from their own lives, to realise how much more comfortable they are than others, and to experience profound personal transformation, developing a global perspective and constantly questioning themselves.

Backpackers are travellers who prefer cheap accommodation, seek to meet other people, travel flexibly for longer periods than those traditionally allocated to group holidays, and enjoy informal, participative leisure activities.
Women's reasons for travelling alone are often linked to a break in their lives, such as the end of their studies, the loss of a job, a separation or bereavement. For those who choose to go back, the lure of travel, the feeling of freedom and the desire to explore new horizons drive them to start again.

Travelling alone brings a great deal to women in terms of empowerment. It means greater autonomy, a feeling of freedom and the acquisition of new skills and knowledge. They gain confidence in themselves and in their ability to manage different situations independently.

Women often come back different after travelling alone. Our study on identity empowerment highlights how these experiences modify and enrich their self-perception and identity. Women do indeed have specific fears when travelling alone, linked to their gender. However, those who have travelled stress that their initial fears are often greater than the actual risks. They note that the risks of assault are not necessarily higher abroad than in France. They develop strategies to avoid the risks and remain vigilant, always aware of the need to ‘be careful’.
Magali Trelohan

Implications for the tourism sector

This study provides concrete guidelines for tourism professionals and destination managers, highlighting the importance of understanding the specific needs of women travelling alone. It also suggests recommendations for improving the departments and support offered to this category of traveller, in order to facilitate their journey and maximise the positive impact of their travel experiences.

 

Methodology

The study is based on a series of in-depth interviews with 18 women recruited via online communities dedicated to backpackers. The participants, from different professional backgrounds and age groups, shared their backpacking experiences, enabling the researchers to identify the main areas of study in the construction of identity empowerment.