In today’s modern society, feminism is rather passé. We’re still striving for equal pay in this country and many charities and NGO’s are working towards equal rights (and basic human rights) abroad. At responsibletravel.com we continue to remember Anita Roddick - not only as a great business woman and humanitarian but as a great female role model. Today’s society seems to idolise size zero women and plastic surgery fanatics. Young girls want to emulate WAGs or be on Big Brother rather than be respected for what they can achieve. As Gok Wan and Trinny and Susannah are encouraging women to be happy with their bodies, low self esteem is sweeping the nation as women fail to measure up to the botox enhanced celebrities they compare themselves to.
The solution lies in celebrating the diversity of women. Here is a selection of some of the inspirational women who have defined themselves through their experiences and life choices rather than their appearance.
Inspirational women Ellen MacArthur, inspired to sail by the book ‘Swallows and Amazons’, set the record for the fastest solo circumnavigation of the globe in 2005. Ellen has also set up her own charitable trust which offers sailing to children recovery from serious illnesses.
At the age of 54 Anne Mustoe decided to cycle around the world, with no training and she hadn’t been on a bike for 30 years. She left her old life as a teacher behind in 1987 and she has now cycled across Europe, Asia, America, South America and Australia and forged a new career as a travel writer and hasn’t looked back since.
Amelia Earhart was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic in 1932. From an early age she had high ambitions; she kept a scrap book of the achievements of women in usually male dominated fields. She also set many other world records for flying including records for speed and altitude and she was also a successful writer. Her career was cut short when she went missing whilst attempting to fly around the world.
Kate Humble started travelling after leaving school, spending a year in Africa travelling from South Africa to Cairo. Her travels have continued and she recently set up stuffyourrucksack.com to help match travellers to organisations where donations of educational equipment or toys are most needed.
Junko Tabei was the first woman to conquer Mount Everest in 1975 when she led a Japanese women’s expedition. She was married and a mother of two at the time but didn’t succumb to the traditional gender roles and still continues to climb today.
My inspirational friend 
My friend Kate is amazing. Three years ago, when she found herself in a job she hated, she decided to change her life with travel. She left her job and went to Morocco on holiday. Whilst there she was offered a job as a tour guide and since then has travelled to India, Cambodia, Laos, Kenya and Croatia as a tour guide. She has also gone back to university and is now studying for a PhD. She’s an inspiration to me as she’s strong and passionate and she never lets problems stand in the way of an adventure.
Do you know an inspirational woman? If you know an inspirational woman, we want to hear from you. Do you have a story where travel helped you to change your life or helped put some perspective on things? Then email us and let us know. Send us your stories to
press@responsibletravel.com and we’ll put the best ones up on the website.
There is more to life than sunbathing in St. Tropez or drinking too much in the clubs of Ibiza. Why not experience the real world, meet new people and challenge yourself? Sometimes, all it takes is two weeks away from your hair straightners and push-up bra to realise what is really important in life.
Check out our
volunteering and
overland trips for inspirational travel ideas, or search all
our holidays...
By
Holly Foat, responsibletravel.com
