Women are viewed, respected, and treated differently around the world, so it’s important that before you go abroad you do some research on your host country’s gender norms and laws. Some countries, for example, have stricter societal dress codes for women. As a result it might be inappropriate for you to wear certain clothing items you would in the U.S. out in a public space (e.g. short-shorts, tank tops, leggings). You may also be asked to cover your shoulders and/or legs when entering places of worship. Not only will knowing these types of norms help you stay safe abroad, but hopefully they will also help you better understand and assimilate to your host culture.

While abroad you may witness or experience behavior towards women that is not common in the U.S., leading you to feel uncomfortable, confused, and/or upset. If this behavior is directed at you it could simply be because you are a woman, but your other intersectional identities may also come into play. Your race, ethnicity, nationality, sexuality, religion, and more is interconnected to your gender identity, potentially leading to targeted assumptions, comments, or attention from men. Some, for instance, may view ‘American women’ a certain way based on sensationalized portrayals of women in the U.S. media. Others may make assumptions about you based on your race, particularly if they are not used to seeing or interacting with people like you.

Remember that your safety is of the utmost importance. If you feel unsafe, trust your instincts and quickly remove yourself from the situation. We encourage you to know the phone numbers of local emergency response teams such as the police, having them either saved in your phone or written down in your wallet (or both). Always stay alert and aware of your surroundings, especially while traveling alone.

Please know that you can contact your Study Abroad Advisor at any time if you have questions or concerns about your study abroad experience. We also hope that some of the resources below, most of which were written by other female travelers, will be helpful to you.