Seeking out a sympathetic community allows women to speak without fear of judgment or worry that some topics may be taboo.

“There’s this desire to connect with a broader cause and with women that you can trust,” says Beth Santos, founder of Wanderful, an online community for women who travel. “There’s a comfort in ‘let’s talk about women’s issues,’” she adds. “The fact that these experiences are so shared, there really is that feeling of sisterhood.”

Originally Santos founded Wanderful as a blog to give voice to issues regarding identity and safety as a female traveler. Discovering an audience in women who were also eager to talk about gender and travel, the site expanded and today boasts 27 chapters across the world as well as a global homesharing network. They organize several in-person events for female travelers to meet, bond and to learn new skills.

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