Meet The Woman Who Risked Everything To Travel The World 250 Years Ago, Disguised As A Man! Credit: AI-generated image
Even today, when women have all the opportunities to explore the world, there are countless naysayers who believe they shouldn’t. Yet, they do, and should. History is full of adventurers, but few stories are as bold (or as surprising) as that of Jeanne Baret—the first woman to circumnavigate the globe. But here’s the quirky part: she did it disguised as a man. Why did she have to disguise herself?
So, what did she do? She cut her hair, bound her chest, and boarded the ship Étoile dressed as “Jean Baret.”
For two years, Baret managed to maintain her disguise, working tirelessly as Commerson’s assistant while collecting and documenting plant species from Brazil to Tahiti to Madagascar. Some say the ruse was uncovered when locals in Tahiti immediately recognised her as a woman, while others believe the crew had their suspicions long before. Either way, once exposed, life at sea became far more dangerous for Baret.
Eventually, she was left behind in Mauritius, where she remained for several years before finally making her way back to France in 1775—completing her historic journey.
Though often overshadowed by male explorers, Baret’s contributions to botany can’t be ignored. Commerson even named a plant after her—Baretia, later renamed Turraea. In 2012, her legacy was officially recognised when a newly discovered species of plant was named Solanum baretiae in her honour.
Jeanne Baret did something more than contribute to her field of science. Maybe unknowingly, or even consciously, she defied conventions, carving a place for herself in a world that did not see women as equals. Her story is a reminder for every woman who hopes to set out on uncharted territories.
