By: Maria Alejandra Londoño » From the June 2023 issue of Reclaim
For a couple of years now, I’ve been traveling the world as a digital nomad and solo female traveler: 4 continents, 15 countries, and 29 different cities; countless hours spent in terminals on layovers, surrounded by various languages; and endless words and hand gestures exchanged with locals. The one thing in common? The fight for women’s rights continues everywhere.
It is shocking to see how many similar struggles women face around the world. They may come with different flavors in different contexts, but in the end, the root issue is the same: Women in every corner of the globe crave more freedom.
Here are the 5 things I’ve discovered, so far, while traveling the world as a libertarian feminist…
#1 The Importance of Cultural Context
The concept of libertarian feminism and women’s rights can look very different in different cultures and societies. It is important to consider cultural context and local history when discussing and advocating for women’s rights—even though the core struggles are often the same.
I was born in Bogotá, Colombia, and spent most of my teenage years living in a small town near the capital city. Traditionally, Latin American societies have been patriarchal and hierarchical, with women expected to conform to strict gender roles and prioritize family and domestic responsibilities.
Women’s circles are a great example of a powerful tool for better understanding the unique cultural context and environment of every individual. And, these spaces can lead to something even more powerful in the fight for women’s rights.
My mom, a free-spirited feminist, raised my brother and me on her own. Our home has always been a freedom-friendly space, so I was lucky not to have to conform to the outdated social norms that many others did. My family was very progressive, teaching me about freedom and financial independence from a young age, and forming the roots of my lifelong love for liberty.
Later on in my life, I started hosting women’s circles to bring emotional and mental support to my community in Colombia. This experience showed me that, even though we all came from the same country (and even city!), we faced completely different realities. And, yet, we could still support each other, even if that just meant listening and offering a safe space for women to express themselves and ask for help if they needed it.
Women’s circles are a great example of a powerful tool for better understanding the unique cultural context and environment of every individual. And, these spaces can lead to something even more powerful in the fight for women’s rights.
#2 The Power of Grassroots Activism
Grassroots activism refers to actions taken by individuals or community-based organizations to address social or political issues at the local level. It can be a powerful force for change in advancing women’s rights because the shift comes from the individuals on a local level.
(Feminists for Liberty, with its amazing support network for feminist activists, is a great example of grassroots activism.)
As a libertarian, I understand the importance of empowering individuals to seek the life they desire, creating powerful connections that can benefit women’s freedom everywhere.
Over the years, I have met and learned from many women’s rights activists around the world who are working at the community level to make a positive difference in their societies. Many of these activists got their start through women’s circles or groups, much like I did (so, if you’re looking to help women in your community and become a women’s rights activist, this is a great way to start!)
One particular experience that positively impacted me was meeting an amazing fellow activist at a Liberty International World Conference in Mongolia. She was from India and a Muslim. I was shocked by how she was able to be equally devoted to her faith and spiritual practices, as well as the causes she championed in her country. She showed me the power of grassroots activism and taught me that, though every community is unique, the ways in which we can grow can be very similar.
Sharing time with her helped me better comprehend the ways my activism could support hers—sometimes that support could be as simple as reposting her story on my social media channels and vice versa. We also exchanged valuable knowledge for growing our respective audiences, such as best practices for how to grow our communities with online events.
Something that stuck with me over the years is the importance of finding local organizations or chapters through which to volunteer. On the road, platforms like Workaway, Trusted House Sitters, and local Facebook Groups have proven great resources for finding local opportunities to make change.
#3 Societal Expectations Are A Shapeshifter
Women are often pressured to conform to traditional gender roles, which can limit their opportunities and make it difficult for them to reach their full potential. This can include expectations around caregiving, domestic work, and dress codes. And, sadly, they seem to exist everywhere: throughout my travels, I have seen the societal expectations I witnessed in my home country manifest themselves in various forms in different countries around the world.
These societal expectations are sometimes so subtle that they can be almost imperceptible. They go beyond financial or educational barriers and seem to be engraved in the minds of both women and men. Traveling has forced me to challenge my assumptions and beliefs as well as to deconstruct why I do the things I do.
One tangible way this has manifested for me is with my clothing choices. While on the road, I began to notice what I was wearing compared to what my male friends were wearing. I felt a constant pressure to always look “pretty”—even if I was uncomfortable or if my outfit wasn’t practical for my travels
I gathered the courage to start putting my comfort first—and yet those around me continued to try to enforce societal norms about “acceptable” female appearance. For example, one time, when I was working as a logistics assistant at an international event, one of the collaborators (a European woman) explicitly gave me directions on how to dress more appropriately. Meanwhile, my male counterpart who was wearing something similar (a t-shirt and sneakers) was given no such instructions.
At gatherings with friends from various different cultures, regardless of the country I was in, I started to realize that my female friends were frequently the ones taking care of everyone else and cleaning up after their partners. Often, handling a child was up to the women only. This was frequently justified with the idea that “men are just not good at these tasks.”
Other societal expectations I’ve encountered have to do with tourism: For example, certain men prefer to travel to certain areas because the women there are stereotyped as more “docile,” a behavior I’ve come to refer to as exploitation tourism.
Women’s freedom is built every day through our actions and those of the people around us. It is far too easy to unquestioningly and unknowingly reinforce certain ideas and attitudes that hold women back. Exposure to different cultures and experiences can help push back on traditional gender roles and attitudes and inspire both local and nonlocal women to pursue greater equality and opportunities.
I challenge you to take notice of why you act a certain way, why you choose to dress a certain way, what roles you assume in mixed sex settings, etc. Do your choices come from a genuine feeling of care and love, personal fulfillment and desire—or do they come from certain expectations that have been thrust upon you because of your gender?
#4 Women Lack Significant Representation in Government & Politics
During my travels, I have seen firsthand how underrepresented women are in many countries’ governments and in politics overall. This lack of representation can make it difficult for women’s voices to be heard and for their needs to be met.
No matter the country, no matter the language, every time I meet with fellow female activists, they always point out that there are not enough women in politics. Some of the key factors contributing to women’s underrepresentation in politics include gender stereotypes and attitudes, lack of institutional support, and overall political culture. All of these come from the same root cause: a crisis in leadership. Leaders in political institutions are not making enough efforts to create spaces where women can be heard and taken into consideration.
I’ve witnessed this same issue in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Many of the laws around the world are made by men, including many of the laws that negatively impact women’s liberty specifically, affecting entire generations and countries.
#5 Reproductive Rights Are Shaky at Best
This is the saddest lesson I’ve learned on my travels. Women’s ability to control our own bodies and make decisions about our reproductive health is fundamental to our autonomy and equality. And, yet, women’s access to safe and legal abortion, birth control, and maternal healthcare are under constant threat in many countries around the world.
I am horrified by the number of women around the world still cannot access birth control over the counter, the hundreds of thousands who go on to die during labor each year, and the countless number of women who have had traumatic medical experiences related to their sex or gender—if they even have access to a gynecologist or similar medical professional at all. As a solo female traveler this hits differently: you always know that your safety might not be guaranteed, even on the smallest things.
I was in the U.S. when the Supreme Court decided to overturn Roe v. Wade, ending the Constitutional right to abortion that had been upheld for decades. It was a gloomy day to see the country that is supposed to be the beacon of freedom for the world fail women on such an important issue. That was the day I became aware that our rights as women are never to be taken for granted and that the fight goes beyond our home countries.
Overall, traveling the world as a libertarian feminist has given me a deeper understanding of the complexities of women’s rights and the various ways in which these concerns intersect with different issues, whether political or cultural. It has also reinforced the importance of considering cultural context and the role of government and grassroots activism in advancing freedom for everyone, no matter their gender.
Women represent a little over 50% of the total population on this planet. Yet, there’s a long way for societies around the world to go in order for us to feel safe, secure, and represented.
Libertarian men, what are you doing to support the women in your life? How are you ensuring that liberty is truly accessible for women, as well as for men?
To my fellow libertarian women, keep fighting and keep up hope: the more we raise our voices, the more battles we win. And each battle won for women’s rights anywhere will help women reap its benefits everywhere.
— Maria Alejandra Londoño is a business consultant for worldwide retreats and online events
