9 Places in the World Where Women Still Can’t Enter
9 Places in the World Where Women Still Can’t Enter
Icarus Aerial Filming/Shutterstock
https://www.fodors.com/news/photos/women-still-arent-permitted-entry-at-these-9-places-around-the-globe
In 2026, women are still not permitted entry at any of these nine places around the globe—from entire islands to men's clubs in the United States.
Whether it’s under the guise of religion, laws, restrictions, or outdated traditions, discrimination against women is still very much present in 2026. Here in the United States, for instance, we’re still fighting for paid maternity leave on the federal level, bodily autonomy with the overturning of Roe v. Wade, as well as access to basic health services, and closing the pay gap. In other countries, women are banned from universities, entering a business without a head covering, or ascending a particular mountain or entering a temple.
Sometimes sex-based discrimination is blatantly insidious or seemingly innocuous. For instance, it’s not always the case that women are barred from specific physical spaces anymore, but are denied the right to work certain professions or join particular organizations. Or it’s that their bodily autonomy is entirely restricted with severe penalties (like jail time) or their access to education is flat out denied. While some of the “places” on this list are actual sites where women can’t enter, others are more symbolic, with deep-rooted misogyny built into the very foundations of the traditions themselves.
1 OF 9
Universities and Schools Beyond the 6th Grade
WHERE: Afghanistan
In 2022, the Taliban banned women from all universities in Afghanistan, citing an attempt to preserve “national interest” and “women’s honor.” Even more alarming, since 2021, young girls are also banned from attending school beyond the sixth grade. This devastating discriminatory act impacts over 2.2 million girls, not to mention the entire social, economic, and equitable structures of the nation. It’s a tragedy beyond measure, and UNESCO reports that since seizing power, the Taliban has also implemented more than 70 decrees that violate the rights of girls and women. For more information, including what you can do to help, visit UNESCO’s dedicated website on protecting the right to education for women in Afghanistan or the United Nations’ website.
2 OF 9
The Pulpit as a Priest in the Roman Catholic Church
WHERE: Vatican City
Women can hold some professional roles in the Vatican, but they’re still barred from becoming a priestess or bishop. The late Pope Francis explained the reasoning behind this in a 2022 interview, citing something (note my sarcasm here) about the Petrine principle and the Marian principle, which deals with the “principle of femininity” of the Church itself. Essentially, because the Church is “a mirror of the woman,” there’s conflict there? Theology aside, women have been serving in lay ministry (like nuns) within the Roman Catholic Church for over 1,500 years, as well as in administrative roles, but they can’t perform the official sacraments or consecrate the Eucharist (aka conduct Mass). But given that Mary Magdalene was the first one Jesus instructed to share the news of his resurrection, we truly wonder how Christ would feel about all this…especially well into the year of our Lord 2026.
3 OF 9
WHERE: The United States
Masonic lodges have been around in the U.S. since the 18th century, but even after all that time, women are still not allowed to become official members. Nearly 15 presidents were part of freemasonry, a secret society known for their cryptic rituals, initiations, and politically-powerful members, and conspiracies surrounding freemasons (and their influence) have drummed up a lot of attention over the years. But due to the brotherhood’s strict hierarchical history and notorious secrecy, women have been excluded from membership in most all mainstream Grand Lodges within the United States. Instead, women can only join the Order of the Eastern Star, a charitable organization associated with freemasonary.
4 OF 9
Anywhere in Public Without a Veil/Hijab
WHERE: Iran
A restriction in Iran, which was approved by parliament in 2023 under the “Protection of the Family through Promoting the Culture of Hijab and Chastity” law, prohibits women from being in public without a hijab or head covering. If they’re uncovered, or show any signs of “unveiling” or “bad dressing”—including exposing any body parts below the neck, other than the hands and feet—they can face severe penalties, such as jail time, flogging, and lofty fines, according to Amnesty.org.
Ed. Note: This article was written prior to the United States and Israel’s coordinated airstrikes against Iran and the killing of its leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
5 OF 9
Hospitals and Health Clinics Without a Hijab
WHERE: Iran
Women are also barred from receiving health and educational services if they fail to comply with the compulsory hijab requirements. In Tehran, however, The Guardian reported in December 2025 that many women are “openly flouting the dress code rules,” particularly after the backlash against the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022, a 22-year-old woman who was taken into custody by the Iranian authorities for allegedly breaching the dress code rules by “improperly” wearing her hijab. She was beaten into a coma and died only three days later. The women of Iran are fighting back against such injustices, and the ensuing protests that followed Amini’s death have shown just how angry they are at the ultra-conservative Iranian government. Currently, experts at the UN are calling for a repeal of the controversial bill.
6 OF 9
Mount Omine (or Mount Sanjo)
WHERE: Japan
A sacred mountain in the Nara Prefecture, Mount Omine is considered to be the birthplace of Shugendo, a mystical religion that blends Shinto, Buddhism, Taoism, and animism and is often associated with seclusion in the mountains. The UNESCO World Heritage site of Mount Omine is the destination for pilgrims and trainees for the Yamabushi, aka the ascetics of the Shugendo faith.
However, for 1,300 years, women have been famously banned from ascending the mountain given its “holy” status. As such, they’re also banned from the Ōminesan-ji Temple, which is located at the top of the mountain, since apparently women are considered unclean and a distraction within the religious order.
7 OF 9
The Bohemian Club
WHERE: San Francisco, California
Founded in 1872 in San Francisco, the Bohemian Club has maintained a strict, invite-only membership for…men. It was founded by a group of “male artists, writers, actors, lawyers, and journalists,” all with some degree of wealth and power, and has counted figures such as Richard Nixon, Henry Kissinger, and Mark Twain as members. In recent years, there’s been considerable controversy surrounding the notorious boy’s-only club, including protests and allegations of wage theft from employees and unfair labor practices. While women can’t join or become members (not that we’d want to!), a 1980s court ruling required the club to hire women as staff.
8 OF 9
WHERE: Greece
Located in Northern Greece, Mount Athos (aka “The Holy Mountain”) is considered sacred in Eastern Orthodox Christianity and famously bars entry to all women. According to the UNESCO World Heritage site, all women are forbidden on the peninsula, which has several monasteries with around 1,400 monks living there year-round. The gender ban called the “Avaton rule” is allowed due to a “peculiar self-administered system under Hellenic Constitutional law.” But it’s even stricter than that: women aren’t even allowed within 500m of the coast, nor are any female animals (except, strangely enough, for cats). Some monks, like Mihailo Tolotos, an orphan who was raised there, have died without ever seeing a woman in real life.
9 OF 9
WHERE: Japan
Another World Heritage Site in Japan, this island is generally off-limits to all tourists, with the exception of priests and some researchers. However, women are explicitly banned, since the island is sacred in the Shinto religion, due to beliefs surrounding purity and menstruation. A solitary priest lives on the island and takes care of the temple there, so it has an official population of exactly one. Technically, however, the priests rotate in intervals to take care of the temple and pray to Tagorihime, the daughter of the sun goddess Amaterasu and one of the three Munakata goddesses. She’s often associated with fog, the sea, and the protection of sailors/maritime safety. According to the Tokyo Weekender, one theory for the ban of women on the island is not only the belief in the impurity of menstrual blood, but that “some Japanese goddesses have been known to be distrustful of potential ‘rivals.’” The public can, however, visit Okitsu-miya Yohaisho (a worship hall on the north side of Oshima) to worship from afar.
With Conflict in the Middle East, Is It Safe to Travel to Europe?
kirill_makarov/Shutterstock
https://www.fodors.com/news/news/with-conflict-in-the-middle-east-is-it-safe-to-travel-to-europe
A drone strike in the European island nation of Cyprus brings the U.S.-Iran war to Europe.
As the Iran conflict nears the end of its first week, airports in several countries in the Gulf Region remain closed, and travel involving the region has reached a virtual standstill due to security and safety concerns. Americans have been advised by the State Department to avoid travel to, or immediately leave, 14 countries in the Middle East.
But will the hostilities spill over and affect travelers bound for Europe?
By one measure, they already have. The Mediterranean island nation of Cyprus was hit on March 2. A drone struck the Royal Air Force (RAF) base at Akrotiri, marking a technical first hit on the European continent. Later on Monday, Paphos airport was evacuated after an unusual object was identified on radar. Cypriot authorities later reported that two additional drones thought to be headed toward the bases were intercepted and stopped.
The incident led to the cancellation of several flights at Paphos and Larnaca airports, but the majority of flights are still operating, and the U.K. government has not issued an advisory against travel to the island. Notably, the State Department also ranks Cyprus in the lowest-risk category for American travelers.
On Wednesday, NATO forces intercepted a ballistic missile that Iran had fired at Turkey. While Cyprus is not a NATO member, Turkey is–and any attack could trigger NATO’s Article 5, the collective defense clause, meaning an attack on one NATO nation is an attack on all NATO nations, and could bring Europe into the war. Already, several European nations have begun positioning troops to protect their own interests.
The State Department has also not updated any travel advisories for Europe since the beginning of the Iran conflict, but continues to monitor the security situations for potential impact on American travelers. Several European countries, including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Denmark, are already rated Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution, largely on concerns that these countries are potential targets for outside terrorist activity.
Much of Eastern Europe and Scandinavia, including Norway, Finland, Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and Greece, are rated Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions.
It must be noted that the State Department issued a “worldwide caution” to all American travelers bound for any destination on February 28 because of the conflict, advising that all U.S. citizens should remain vigilant to threats.
Worldwide cautions are not uncommon, and the State Department has issued them on average once a year for most of this decade.
There have been instances when terrorism outside the Middle East is linked to regional conflict, most famously the attacks on September 11, 2001. Overall, however, large-scale terrorist attacks aimed at U.S. citizens in the United States or American travelers abroad are relatively infrequent, and some attempts have been unsuccessful.
There’s little to suggest that the security situation in Europe for American travelers has changed in the early days of this latest conflict. Travelers should monitor the U.S. State Department travel website for the latest updates and travel advisories, and consider travel insurance for their travels regardless of destination.
Travelers concerned about security threats during their travels can also subscribe to membership services like MedJet Horizon, which will evacuate them in the event of an emergency and provide security alerts and updates for regions at elevated risk.
It’s also worth noting that national security forces and intelligence departments tend to shift to higher alert levels when a conflict on the scale of the Iran war begins. National security forces analyze a range of intelligence to compile a risk profile for both travelers and day-to-day business in their jurisdictions; countries with close relations (such as the United States and many members of the European Union) tend to share risk assessments and intelligence briefings. Supranational law enforcement organizations such as Interpol and Europol also share intelligence with national governments.
Ultimately, it’s up to the traveler to stay informed about the security risks of their destination and to remain vigilant to keep themselves safe and secure throughout their travels.
U.S. Has a Message for Spring Breakers Traveling to Mexico
Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board
https://www.fodors.com/world/mexico-and-central-america/mexico/experiences/news/u-s-has-a-message-for-spring-breakers-traveling-to-mexico
Travel responsibly.
The U.S. Embassy in Mexico has issued a spring break advisory for Americans traveling to Mexico. It notes that while violence from last month has subsided, risks of kidnapping and crime remain. The advisory outlines key points travelers should review before planning trips to Mexico.
“Crime, including violent crime, can occur anywhere in Mexico, including in popular tourist destinations. This includes homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery. U.S. citizens should exercise caution in popular spring break spots, especially after dark,” the advisory states. Other highlighted crimes include sexual assault, extortion, and scams. Travelers are also urged to watch out for strong currents at beaches and to avoid swimming alone, while intoxicated, or at night.
The advisory reminds Americans that certain items are prohibited in Mexico. Vapes, e-cigarettes, and e-liquids are illegal in the country, and possession may lead to fines of over $10,000 or arrest. Drugs and firearms are also restricted, with violations potentially resulting in lengthy imprisonment.
Last month, the U.S. advised Americans in Mexico to shelter in place due to civil unrest after the death of cartel boss El Mencho. Gang members responded violently, burning cars and blocking roads. Airlines canceled flights to the tourist hub of Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara. Taxi services, rideshares, and public transportation were also disrupted, leaving many tourists—primarily Americans—stranded. The situation has since stabilized, and the U.S. Embassy lifted all restrictions on February 25.
The U.S. State Department currently has a Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution advisory for Mexico. However, some regions, including Colima, Sinaloa, Zacatecas, and Guerrero, have a Level 4: Do Not Travel warning. “There is a risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Mexico.” Because advisories vary by region, travelers should check guidance for their specific destinations before planning a trip.
Cartels do not typically target tourists or expats, and the government provides heightened security in tourist zones. However, travel always involves risk, and tourists should evaluate the local situation and enroll in the federal government’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).
Spring Travel
Americans are preparing for spring break after a long winter and multiple snowstorms. Airlines for America, a trade group representing major airlines in North America, expects an all-time high number of travelers this spring. The organization estimates that U.S. airlines will fly 2.8 million travelers each day from March 1 through April 30, totaling 171 million travelers this spring.
Meanwhile, Google revealed the top 10 trending U.S. destinations for 2026 spring break travel. Hilo, Hawaii, ranks first, while five Florida destinations also made the list. Flight searches for California, Colorado, and North Carolina increased as well, according to Google.
Global events may impact international travel. The war in the Middle East has disrupted flights worldwide, as Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Doha have curtailed operations and closed airspace. Since these cities are major travel hubs, the impact will likely affect travelers this spring.
DUHC&S | Strategic Hospitality Consulting & Advisory
We transform hospitality and tourism businesses through strategic solutions, operational efficiency, and comprehensive renovation. With over 40 years of experience working with brands like Hilton, Hyatt, Sheraton, and Sonesta, we enhance asset value and profitability through:
*Operational excellence and brand standards (GSI +90%)
*Market penetration and commercial strategies
*Key partnerships and disruptive innovation
*Hotel openings and repositioning
Proven results :
✅ 48% GOP |
✅ +120% asset valuation growth
✅ Successful projects across 6 Latin American countries
🔹 Let's connect :
📩 Email: diurugeles@gmail.com
🎥 YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@DUHC-S
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diur_2000/
https://viajes-noticias-duhospitality.blogspot.com
https://viajes-duhospitality.blogspot.com
https://travel-duhospitality.blogspot.com
Disclaimer
DUHC&S shares this information for educational and informational purposes only. The news articles reproduced here are sourced from public and recognized media outlets. We are not the original authors of this content but rather distributors of it. All credits go to the original sources cited in each article. If you are the legitimate owner of any material and wish to have it modified or removed, please contact us immediately at diurugeles@gmail.com, and we will address your request promptly.
Comments
Post a Comment