NAVIGATING FEAR: Female Solo Travel and Transformative Experiences
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Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
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Tese de doutorado
Título alternativo
Primeiro orientador
Membros da banca
Alexandre Panosso Netto
Verônica Feder Mayer
Letícia Moreira Casotti
Luciana Alves Rodas Vera
Verônica Feder Mayer
Letícia Moreira Casotti
Luciana Alves Rodas Vera
Resumo
Solo female travel has become an increasingly significant phenomenon in contemporary tourism, offering women experiences of autonomy and personal transformation. However, female mobility in public spaces remains shaped by structural constraints and gender-based fear, which influence their decision-making and consumption patterns throughout their journeys. This dissertation investigates how fear impacts the transformative experiences of solo female travelers, examining their coping strategies and the effects of this process on their identity and consumption habits. The study adopts a hermeneutic phenomenological approach, combining in-depth interviews with a netnographic analysis of travel blogs and news reports. Through data triangulation, the research identifies that fear not only limits mobility but also conditions women’s consumption choices, leading to the conceptualization of Conditioned Consumption. This phenomenon manifests in two primary forms: (1) Active conditioned consumption (Avoidance Strategy), in which travelers exclude destinations, activities, or services perceived as unsafe; and (2) Preventive Conditioned Consumption (Compensatory Strategy), which involves additional investments in security, such as selecting specific accommodations, private transportation, and community-based support networks. Furthermore, findings suggest that the experience of traveling alone fosters a symbolic shift, enhancing autonomy and self-confidence. By confronting fear and socially imposed restrictions, solo female travelers undergo a process of personal transformation, developing an expanded sense of capability and renegotiating their relationship with public space. This shift also translates into new consumption patterns, with a heightened appreciation for authentic experiences, sustainable tourism, and hospitality networks built on mutual trust. By applying the framework of the Geography of Fear, this study contributes to discussions on the regulation of women’s mobility and the ways in which female travelers negotiate their presence in public spaces. While existing research highlights how fear constrains women’s movements, this dissertation advances the debate by demonstrating how solo female travelers actively reshape their mobility strategies. The concept of Conditioned Consumption bridges tourism studies with consumer behavior research, offering a new perspective on how emotions and risk perceptions influence economic and social choices in travel contexts. The research also sheds light on the intersectionality of solo female travel, emphasizing that women’s experiences vary significantly based on race, nationality, age, and socioeconomic status. These intersecting factors determine not only the perception of fear but also the accessibility of coping strategies, such as financial resources for safer accommodations or cultural norms regarding female independence. Addressing these nuances deepens the theoretical contributions of this work while reinforcing the need for more inclusive policies in the tourism sector. The primary theoretical contribution of this dissertation lies in the development of the Conditioned Consumption concept, which expands the understanding of the relationship between fear, mobility, and consumer behavior in tourism. Additionally, the research underscores the intersectionality of solo female travel experiences, highlighting how factors such as age, race, and social class shape perceptions of risk and adaptation strategies. Practical implications include recommendations for the tourism industry, advocating for the development of more inclusive and safer policies and services tailored to female travelers. Finally, this study calls for further research exploring the intersection of solo female travel and public safety policies, as well as longitudinal studies tracking the evolution of fear perception and its long-term implications. By analyzing the dialectic between fear and transformation, this dissertation contributes to a broader discussion on tourism, gender, and freedom, demonstrating that, for many women, traveling alone is more than a leisure experience – it is an act of resistance and identity reconfiguration.
Abstract
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Solo female travel, geography of fear, transformative tourism, female mobility, personal transformation, intersectionality, travel safety