Putting women’s safety at the forefront

By JourneyWoman

Women’s travel leaders JourneyWoman™ and Girls’ Guide to Paris today announced that Match Group, a leading provider of digital technologies designed to help people make meaningful connections, is the presenting sponsor for its inaugural Women’s Travel Wisdom” wellness and travel retreat-style vent. 

Timed for October 2022, Women’s Travel Wisdom is a unique five-day event in Northern California that brings together a curated group of influential wellness experts, entrepreneurs, activists, authors and travelers.

“Our vision for this retreat is to help women with a shared interest in travel rediscover their sense of purpose and empower women to create positive change through our actions,” said Carolyn Ray, CEO, JourneyWoman, who is co-hosting the event, alongside Girls’ Guide to Paris CEO Doni Belau. “We’re thrilled to partner with Match Group and excited to have such a well-known advocate for women’s safety and human rights with Tracey Breeden joining us as a speaker, bringing women’s physical and online safety to the forefront.”

Data shows online harassment is intensifying

According to a Pew Research, The State of Online Harassment survey of U.S adults in September 2021:

• • 41% of Americans have personally experienced some form of online harassment in at least one of the six key ways that were measured
  • Growing shares of Americans report experiencing more severe forms of harassment, which encompasses physical threats, stalking, sexual harassment and sustained harassment
  • Women are more likely than men to report being sexually harassed online (16% vs. 5%) or stalked (13% vs. 9%)
  • 73% of women are abused online worldwide, according to the UN Broadband Commission’s 2015 report. More than half (52%) of the women polled disagree with this statement: “The Internet is a safe place to express my opinions.”

According to the JourneyWoman Safety Survey (of 350 women, almost 90% of respondents age 55 and over) in Spring 2021:

• • 12% of women have been physically attacked or threatened while travelling;
  • Of these, 38% were able to defend themselves; 16% had help from another person and 13% were not able to defend themselves;
  • 88% of women say they were somewhat threatened or felt unsafe while travelling;
  • 97% do not feel they have the physical skills to defend themselves; and
  • Many more raised concerns about feeling increasingly vulnerable due to their age or mobility.

About The Organizers

Founded in 1994, JourneyWoman™ is the world’s first and largest women’s solo travel publication, inspiring women to travel safely and well for almost 30 years through its editorial and Women’s Travel Directory, which features women-friendly travel businesses in over 120 countries. Girls’ Guide to Paris & Beyond, established in 2009, is one of the largest women’s-only tour operators, offering unique trips for small groups to over 25 countries.

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