Was there outcry when the 16 year old GUY sailed around the world, solo? "How could his parents let him do it??"
shareNo, it's not-the young man in The Dove succeeded at doing this, and nobody made a big stink about it; they admired his courage in doing so. Our risk-averse culture of today, however, frowns on youth doing something like this...how far we've slipped from those days (sigh.)
shareIt was a different time. I backpacked across Europe as a 15 yr old. I would NEVER allow my 15 yr old (if I had kids) to do that. Kids used to walk to the bus stop or walk miles to and from school without being kidnapped. But you're right to an extent. A tall strapping 16 yr old male elicits less FEAR for his safety than a girl. But then I think people matured a lot faster back then.
I don't think it's just sexism, people were fearful that the GIRL would be subject to kidnap and rape by pirates or something (an all too common event in many parts of the world today unfortunately). But the previous poster was right in that we live in a risk averse society. Lawyers will SUE for the slightest reason and they will sue everyone for the slightest association with an event.
Sure, modern day martitime technology / GPS / communications tech is far superior than it was back then, but I think the world is a more dangerous place when it comes to people.
Dr. Kila Marr was right. Kill the Crystalline Entity.share
For the record, Patti was traveling around the world alone too. Backpacking, stopping to work for a while, getting on tramp steamers, hitchhiking. She was just a year older than Robin.
As StoneGriffin said, it was a different time.
Also, wasn't Abby going for a fastest record? Robin lived a full life and grew up during his 5 year journey.
Gibbs: My door's unlocked. Tony: I know.
Yes, Robin's dad was criticized at first for letting his 16 year old son do this. But there was no internet or blogosphere then so public criticism only propagated in the local paper's editorial section and letters. Robin mentions this in his book and articles but he doesn't dwell on it and it faded when National Geographic started covering it. Gave it the impression of adult supervision.
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