Solo-Backpacking for Women: Safety and Practicality with Lisa van der Sluijs

Lisa van der Sluijs is a college senior and world traveler who shared her experiences as a solo female backpacker at Harvard College during Womens Week. She is joined by host Stephen P. Wood for a frank discussion on backpacking solo. One of the biggest issues pertains to gender equity for solo backpackers. There are many who advocate against this practice citing safety concerns for solo-backpacking women. Lisa counters with the fact that there is nowhere that is truly safe for women, and that this is a global issue. Stephen and Lisa discuss some of the things that can make this practice safer, as Lisa shares some of her own experiences as a solo backpacker. She also shares some of her experiences, including solo backpacking in the Middle East. The conversation leads to a discussion on how more women, LGBQT and non-binary individuals can get started, stay safe and enjoy the outdoors and travel. Lisa is a graduating senior at Harvard College, where she studies Political Science and Middle Eastern Studies. She is both Dutch and German, and grew up in Groningen, in the north of the Netherlands. Outside of academics, Lisa really enjoys outdoor sports so you will often find her hiking, running, skiing, biking, or sailing. Lisa also likes to explore new places: she works in Austria as a ski instructor most winters, studied in Lebanon, interned for non-profits in Turkey and Jordan, and has solo backpacked many countries in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. Lisa is passionate about solo backpacking on a budget and tries to encourage everyone (but especially women) to go out and explore the world by themselves.