Gender, Companionship, and Travel. Discourses in Pre-modern and Modern Travel Literature

This essay examines the ways in which, in her travel writing, Dutch journalist Mary Pos presented a travelling self that was able to tackle the logistical, financial, physical and psychological challenges she faced while being on journeys she undertook on her own, and confront the socio-cultural and religious pressures when transgressing traditional constructions of femininity. In order to be able to do so the author borrowed from a mix of discourses on hand, such as those of gender, travel writing, tourism, colonialism, religion, class, charity work, and Dutch journalism. Sources used consist of correspondence with relatives, friends, lovers, admirers, sponsors, and politicians; Pos’ published travel writing such as books, and newspaper and magazine articles; manuscripts, written lectures, reviews, personal notebooks, and photos.