“Aren’t you afraid?” – An International Women’s Day Special

Celebrating solo female travellers and their stories which inspire others

Hey! I’m Emma from Where’s Ems? 👋🏼 I’ve been travelling full-time since 2023 while building my freelance writing business. Subscribe to receive weekly conversations with women travelling solo, celebrating the joy, kindness and challenges along the way, and asking the question they’re so often asked: “Aren’t you afraid?”

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International Women’s Day (IWD) celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. It’s also a moment to recognise the barriers that still exist.

One of those barriers is something as simple as freedom of movement. For many women, travelling alone is still treated as risky. When you mention it, the reaction is often the same:

“Aren’t you afraid?”

Sometimes the question comes from concern. Sometimes from disbelief. Occasionally, it’s even framed as admiration, as if travelling alone is some kind of brave act.

The truth is, many of us do feel afraid sometimes. And that’s okay.

In fact, according to the 2026 Solo Female Travel Trends report, 68% of solo female travellers say they worry about safety — up slightly from 66% in 2025 and holding steady since 2020.

Part of the solution is obviously making the world safer. But another part is us showing up anyway. Every woman who travels solo reinforces that safety is a right, not a privilege, and women deserve the same freedom to move through the world without assuming it’s inherently dangerous.

I don’t want to live in a world where a woman travelling alone is seen as brave, reckless or extraordinary. I want to live in a world where it’s just… normal.

That’s why I started my weekly series, “Aren’t you afraid?” — to ask other women how they respond to that question, honestly and in their own words.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme is “Give to Gain.” It’s based on the idea that when women share their knowledge, advice and experiences, everyone benefits. Because giving isn’t a loss — it’s a multiplication. When we share what we’ve learnt, we make the path a little easier for the next woman walking it.

I like to think the “Aren’t you afraid?” series is one small way of doing that.

In it, women talk openly about travelling solo — the fears they’ve had, the precautions they take, the kindness they’ve experienced and the mindset shifts that helped them trust themselves.

Every woman who shares her story gives something away: her fears, her mistakes and her hard-won confidence. In doing so, she makes it a little easier for another woman to set a boundary, ask for help, or finally book the trip she’s been talking herself out of.

So today, for International Women’s Day, I wanted to take a moment to celebrate some of the voices from the series so far…

If you’re wondering whether solo travel has an age limit, start with Yvette Menard, who shares what it’s like travelling independently at 63.

If you’re curious about navigating India as a solo female traveller, Sophie Cross shares how much she loves the country — so much that the thought of never returning pushed her to go back alone.

If you’ve ever felt afraid before a trip but booked the flight anyway, you’ll recognise yourself in Taylor Haught’s honest take on anxiety.

Wondering whether adventure is still possible after loss? Kellie Woodger walked 1,200km solo across France after being widowed, discovering that new chapters can begin even after unimaginable grief.

Budget or passport hurdles holding you back? Smita Bhattacharya shares how she’s travelled to over 65 countries as a solo traveller from India.

If you want to travel in pursuit of something you love, read Heather Carpenter’s story of how a photography course on her first solo trip grew into a full-time lifestyle.

If you’ve ever worried, “What if I get sick or something goes wrong?”, Khristee Rich shares how falling ill while travelling only strengthened her belief in the kindness of strangers and trusting she’ll be taken care of.

If your trips don’t always go to plan, Abby Celentano proves that even a little self-inflicted travel chaos can teach you to trust yourself wherever you are.

And if the idea of chatting with strangers abroad makes you nervous, Becky Jackson shares how small conversations on her solo trips slowly built her confidence.

Thank you to every woman who has said yes to being part of this series:

Sophie Cross, Yvette Menard, Taylor, Wandering With Art & Soul, Smita Bhattacharya, Heather Carpenter, Khristee Rich, Abby, Becky Jackson and all my upcoming guests.

Your words are already part of someone else’s journey.

If you’d like to add your voice to “Aren’t you afraid?”, I’m now accepting new stories. Please register your interest below.

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