116 Letter from Mar Algueró Boronat

Queridas compañeras y amigas,

In my still-early academic journey, I have been fortunate to walk alongside powerful, intelligent, and generous women. Women who have inspired me not only through their achievements, but also through their capacity to collaborate, to uplift each other, and to share the journey with solidarity and joy. This sense of collective strength, of building together rather than competing, has been one of the most empowering parts of my career so far.

That said, not every space in academia is welcoming. There will be moments when others try to make you feel smaller, as if your voice does not belong, or your ideas are not enough. These moments can be subtle or direct, but they can also be opportunities to stand firm. To persist. To remind yourself, and others, that you belong here, too.
Academic value is not measured only by citations or rankings. It is also built in conversations, in care, in consistency, and in the courage to stay. For me, being a woman in tourism research means resisting, claiming space, and showing, through work and conviction, that we have knowledge to offer, and that our presence matters.

So to all the women starting out in this field: don’t let anyone make you feel you’re not enough. Surround yourself with people who lift you up. Find your voice and trust it.

And above all, keep going.

With solidarity and admiration,

Mar Algueró Boronat

Universitat Jaume I, Castellón de la Plana, Spain