During the height of British imperialism, 1850 to 1915, a number of women traveled to various parts of the empire. These women included wives of British officials and missionaries following their husbands, domestic workers looking for jobs and academics who studied the colonies from an anthropological perspective. The latter group was the most significant, contributing to the field of anthropology in Britain. Through their diaries, letters, and books we can comprehend how these women fit into the British academic and social environments. Therefore this paper develops an understanding of how women’s motivations for traveling reflected both the traditional and changing roles of women in British society. This paper uses the writings of Mary Kingsley and Isabella Bird Bishop to represent the female academics who traveled throughout the British Empire. Their unique perspectives on the colonies and inhabitants give insight to how women in this time period were attempting to branch out of their traditional roles while still maintaining the cultural feminine ideal. Their experiences allow us to better understand women’s motivations behind traveling and also provide insight into the acceptance of female academics in British society and changing opinions about women in the latter half of the nineteenth century.

A Woman's Touch: Female Travelers and Imperialism