Free, now association
Free to move, free to be: the revolution of steps
There was a moment when Free to Travel it was not yet an association, but an idea, a dream born from the meeting of women with different stories, different experiences, but a common desire: to claim freedom of movement, not only physical, but mental, social and cultural. It all started with a question: Why is it that for us women the world is still full of invisible borders? So we started meeting, sharing stories, fears, dreams, building together a project that did not only concern the individual, but the community.
The first steps were timid: a community of travelers, a virtual space to exchange ideas, advice and inspirations. But we soon realized that we couldn't stop there. Every experience told, every trip undertaken by one of us, every fear overcome became a building block of something bigger. It was as if, by sharing and comparing ourselves, we were slowly rewriting the rules of the game. We understood that we weren't just talking about travel, but about a fundamental right: the freedom to move around the world without obstacles, without judgments, without fears.
It was then that the project took shape, feeding on that community making that today seems like a forgotten art. We discovered that there is an incredible strength in being interested in something that goes beyond one's personal sphere, that concerns the common good. Free to Travel It grew like this: as a bridge between generations, a catalyst of energy, a meeting point for those who believe that another world is possible.
We worked together, learning to trust collective power, comparison, dialogue. And we realized that this is not just a battle for freedom of movement, but a call for a new resocialization of the community fabric, a call to action for fairer policies, more inclusive spaces, better opportunities for all. From a simple community, we have become an association with ambitious projects: to reformulate the culture of travel, promote female empowerment and build a society that guarantees women the safety and freedom to be wherever they want.
Today, Free to Travel It is not just the dream of a few: it is a living, pulsating network that grows and transforms thanks to the contribution of every woman who decides to do her part. It is the demonstration that, when we unite for a common goal, change is not only possible: it is inevitable.
The journey: a personal and collective revolution
Traveling is much more than changing places: it is changing skin. It is a transformative process that overturns balances, challenges beliefs and redefines the boundaries of what is possible. For us women, travel is also a silent revolution, capable of breaking the narratives that want us to be fragile, vulnerable, incapable of facing the world.
Through travel we learn not only to navigate different cultures, but also to navigate the complexity of our society. Every train ticket, every step along a road less traveled becomes a lesson: I can do it on my own, I can overcome obstacles, I can trust my instincts. But why, in 2025, does this freedom still seem like a luxury for a few? Why does talking about women's travel still mean dealing with fear, violence and cultural limits?
The journey: a personal and collective revolution
Traveling is much more than changing places: it is changing skin. It is a transformative process that overturns balances, challenges beliefs and redefines the boundaries of what is possible. For us women, travel is also a silent revolution, capable of breaking the narratives that want us to be fragile, vulnerable, incapable of facing the world.
Through travel we learn not only to navigate different cultures, but also to navigate the complexity of our society. Every train ticket, every step along a road less traveled becomes a lesson: I can do it on my own, I can overcome obstacles, I can trust my instincts. But why, in 2025, does this freedom still seem like a luxury for a few? Why does talking about women's travel still mean dealing with fear, violence and cultural limits?
Barriers to Break Down: The Illusion of Protection
The culture of fear, fed by millennia of toxic narratives, has taught women that stepping outside the confines of the known is dangerous. But is that really the case? The data tells us that women are constantly faced with an impossible choice: safety or freedom? Stay home or risk the unknown? This dichotomy is a trap. We don't want to choose: we want both.
Physical and invisible barriers limit our mobility: inadequate infrastructure, unsafe transportation, harassment in public places. But there are also cultural walls to demolish: the expectations that want us to be “responsible,” “prudential,” “fearful.” Travel, then, becomes a form of creative rebellion: a way to rewrite the meaning of safety, not as a static good, but as a condition that we must demand and build together.
The Solution Map: Building a World for Women
How can we transform the world into a place where freedom of movement is real? We at Free to Travel We asked ourselves some radical questions, which guide our work and our projects:
- What public and private services need to be rethought to meet the needs of women travellers?
It’s not just about “more lights in the parks.” We want a complete rethinking of the transportation system, public spaces, urban policies, so that women feel truly free to move, in the evening as well as during the day. - How can we educate new generations about the right to mobility?
This is not just a “feminine” discourse. Freedom of movement is a universal value that concerns everyone: men, women, entire communities. Education must start in schools, families, workplaces, creating a culture of inclusiveness. - What does security mean for a woman?
Let us move beyond the paternalistic concept of “protection” to embrace a vision of security as empowerment, awareness, autonomy.
A Manifesto for the Future
Our goal is not only to raise awareness: we want to build a network of women, institutions and tourism professionals to rethink the world of travel as a space of inclusion. We work to promote policies that encourage women's mobility, improve their working conditions and expand access to transformative travel experiences.
Women's freedom of movement is a revolution in progress. It is an invitation to take part in the change, to question habits, to overturn conventions. Traveling is not just a right: it is a duty towards ourselves and future generations.
The Solution Map: Building a World for Women
How can we transform the world into a place where freedom of movement is real? We at Free to Travel We asked ourselves some radical questions, which guide our work and our projects:
- What public and private services need to be rethought to meet the needs of women travellers?
It’s not just about “more lights in the parks.” We want a complete rethinking of the transportation system, public spaces, urban policies, so that women feel truly free to move, in the evening as well as during the day. - How can we educate new generations about the right to mobility?
This is not just a “feminine” discourse. Freedom of movement is a universal value that concerns everyone: men, women, entire communities. Education must start in schools, families, workplaces, creating a culture of inclusiveness. - What does security mean for a woman?
Let us move beyond the paternalistic concept of “protection” to embrace a vision of security as empowerment, awareness, autonomy.
Article by Nicole Pizzolato
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