Nowadays, many women across the world travel solo and have travel-related professions previously reserved for men. But just over 100 years ago, an adventurous and entrepreneurial spirit in a woman was a necessity to break barriers, challenge social norms and ,sometimes, even dress as a man to reach their dream destinations.
Read the stories of five women whose achievements made an impact on the way we travel.
Ida Pfeiffer (1797-1858)
Ida Pfeiffer was an Austrian explorer and travel writer who defied 19th-century gender norms. Born in Vienna, she received an education comparable to her brothers, nurturing an early passion for adventure. In her 40s, with her sons grown, Pfeiffer embarked on extensive travels across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, including two global circumnavigations between 1846 and 1855.
Her travel accounts, such as A Woman's Journey Round the World and A Lady's Second Journey Round the World, gained immense popularity, establishing her as one of Europe's bestselling authors.
Alexine Tinne (1835 – 1869)
Alexandrine 'Alexine' Tinne (1835-1869) was a pioneering Dutch explorer who made significant contributions to African exploration during the 19th century.
Born into a wealthy family, Tinne's early travels with her mother across Europe and the Middle East laid the foundation for her later expeditions. In the 1850s, she ventured into Africa, focusing on exploring the sources of the Nile from Gondokoro.
Tinne's efforts were remarkable for her time, as she navigated a male-dominated and often perilous environment. She made notable contributions to mapping the White Nile and its tributaries. Her wealth enabled her to undertake these ambitious explorations, which were uncommon for women of her era.
Tragically, Tinne's life was cut short when she was murdered in Sudan in 1869. Her legacy as an early female explorer endures, inspiring future generations to pursue adventure and knowledge in the face of societal constraints.
Louise Bourbonnaud (c. 1847-1915)
Louise Bourbonnaud was a French writer, explorer, and philanthropist born in Paris.
She made significant contributions to humanitarian causes, most notably founding the Relief Society for the Wounded of the Land and Sea Armies, which later became the French Red Cross. Bourbonnaud's philanthropic efforts extended to supporting hospitals and establishing a nursery in Paris, demonstrating her commitment to social welfare.
As an explorer, Bourbonnaud embarked on extensive travels across North and South America and the Far East during an era when such journeys were uncommon for women.
In her travel writings, she questioned mainstream social attitudes toward adventurous women:
Well, I, a woman, wanted to show that those ideas enumerated above about women were getting very stale and out-of-date. Still young, in possession of a rather decent fortune, and a widow - that is to say, mistress of my actions - I set out upon my journey around the world.
Maria Piaz (1877 - 1971)
Maria Piaz, born in 1877 in Pera di Fassa, Italy, was a pioneering figure in the development of tourism in Val di Fassa. Known as the 'Mare del Pordoi' (Mother of Pordoi), she played a crucial role in establishing key infrastructure that transformed the region's tourism landscape.
Her most notable achievement was the conceptualisation and establishment of the Sass Pordoi cable car, which celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2023. This innovative project, initiated when Piaz was 80 years old, allowed visitors to easily access breathtaking mountain scenery from 2240 metres to 2950 metres altitude.
Piaz's entrepreneurial spirit and dedication made her a symbol of female empowerment and independence during a time when women typically held marginal roles in society. Her legacy continues to inspire generations and showcases her enduring influence on Val di Fassa's tourism industry. Maria Piaz's contributions have left an indelible mark on the region, cementing her status as a true pioneer of local tourism.
Alma Karlin (1889-1950)
Alma Karlin was a Slovenian writer, poet, and polyglot renowned for her solo world travels.
Born in Celje, she mastered numerous languages and embarked on a global journey from 1919 to 1927, becoming one of the first European women to circumnavigate the world alone. Karlin financed her travels through writing and translation work, visiting North and South America, the Pacific Islands, and Asia.
Her most famous work, Einsame Weltreise (Lonely World Tour), documented her experiences. Karlin's writings, which include travel literature and fiction, reflect her ethnological interests and unique perspective as a female traveler of her time. Despite facing hardships during World War II, including arrest for her anti-Nazi stance, she continued to write prolifically.
Karlin's legacy endures through her published works, unpublished manuscripts, and a collection of artifacts from her travels, now preserved in various institutions.
This blog is part of the DIGICHer project, which aims to explore the legal, political, socio-economic and technological factors driving the digitisation of cultural heritage for minority groups.