Comments on: Wanderlust and Lipstick, by Beth Whitman http://soloroadtrip.com/2009/06/16/road-trip-how-to/wanderlust-and-lipstick-by-beth-whitman/ Solo Road Trip is the award winning blog of travel writer Tammie Dooley. Hitch a ride for a grown-up version of running away from home. Feel the wind. Wed, 16 May 2012 15:10:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Ted http://soloroadtrip.com/2009/06/16/road-trip-how-to/wanderlust-and-lipstick-by-beth-whitman/#comment-900 Ted Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:53:38 +0000 http://soloroadtrip.com/?p=2922#comment-900 Almost everything I've seen written about solo travel is by and for women, for reasons I only partially understand. I'll agree that most of the "issues" that affect solo travelers are gender-neutral, but for some reason only women seem interested in talking about them. I'm not sure whether it's because men are afraid of seeming "weak" or "unmanly" if they express concern about things like eating dinner alone in a restaurant, or simply that more women than men are sufficiently interested in travel to pursue it in the absence of a companion. Either way, publishers likely assume that a book on solo travel needs to be female-centric because that's the presumed audience. After all, how many copies would a book on solo travel for men sell? Thanks to your interesting review, I'll certainly have a look at the book the next time I'm in a bookstore and read it through my "transvaluation glasses." In the extremely unlikely event that anyone questions me about reading a book for women, I'll explain that I'm a frequent solo traveler, but books on solo travel for men don't exist. Despite the apparent lack of inclusiveness, I'm very glad to see books like this get published. Anything that successfully encourages women to take solo trips can only increase the acceptance of "soloing" as a valid and viable option for travel, which will benefit men and women alike. Almost everything I’ve seen written about solo travel is by and for women, for reasons I only partially understand. I’ll agree that most of the “issues” that affect solo travelers are gender-neutral, but for some reason only women seem interested in talking about them. I’m not sure whether it’s because men are afraid of seeming “weak” or “unmanly” if they express concern about things like eating dinner alone in a restaurant, or simply that more women than men are sufficiently interested in travel to pursue it in the absence of a companion. Either way, publishers likely assume that a book on solo travel needs to be female-centric because that’s the presumed audience. After all, how many copies would a book on solo travel for men sell?

Thanks to your interesting review, I’ll certainly have a look at the book the next time I’m in a bookstore and read it through my “transvaluation glasses.” In the extremely unlikely event that anyone questions me about reading a book for women, I’ll explain that I’m a frequent solo traveler, but books on solo travel for men don’t exist. Despite the apparent lack of inclusiveness, I’m very glad to see books like this get published. Anything that successfully encourages women to take solo trips can only increase the acceptance of “soloing” as a valid and viable option for travel, which will benefit men and women alike.

]]> By: Jerome Peterson http://soloroadtrip.com/2009/06/16/road-trip-how-to/wanderlust-and-lipstick-by-beth-whitman/#comment-862 Jerome Peterson Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:56:09 +0000 http://soloroadtrip.com/?p=2922#comment-862 Great review and book sounds interesting. If unconventional travel, like hitchhiking, interests you check out the fictional novel Thumb Flagging. It is available online. Great review and book sounds interesting. If unconventional travel, like hitchhiking, interests you check out the fictional novel Thumb Flagging. It is available online.

]]> By: Jeremy http://soloroadtrip.com/2009/06/16/road-trip-how-to/wanderlust-and-lipstick-by-beth-whitman/#comment-846 Jeremy Fri, 19 Jun 2009 22:17:16 +0000 http://soloroadtrip.com/?p=2922#comment-846 Well, I found it interesting, and I'm a guy. A guy currently sitting 2000 miles from home, alone; but a guy nonetheless. :) Well, I found it interesting, and I’m a guy. A guy currently sitting 2000 miles from home, alone; but a guy nonetheless. :)

]]> By: Clay Mama http://soloroadtrip.com/2009/06/16/road-trip-how-to/wanderlust-and-lipstick-by-beth-whitman/#comment-835 Clay Mama Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:58:09 +0000 http://soloroadtrip.com/?p=2922#comment-835 How fitting for you to do this! Very interesting and packed with information for us all. I want to read the book...sounds like a great adventure story! Your review is wonderfully written, and I know Beth is very pleased! How fitting for you to do this! Very interesting and packed with information for us all. I want to read the book…sounds like a great adventure story! Your review is wonderfully written, and I know Beth is very pleased!

]]> By: jen laceda http://soloroadtrip.com/2009/06/16/road-trip-how-to/wanderlust-and-lipstick-by-beth-whitman/#comment-827 jen laceda Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:53:02 +0000 http://soloroadtrip.com/?p=2922#comment-827 Hi Tammie, I enjoyed reading your review of Beth Whitman's book. I know you are a proponent of solo travel, so it just seems appropriate that you did something like this! Cheers, Jen Hi Tammie,
I enjoyed reading your review of Beth Whitman’s book. I know you are a proponent of solo travel, so it just seems appropriate that you did something like this!
Cheers,
Jen

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