Study abroad is a huge deal in college. For many students, taking a summer, a semester, a year, or even more off from school to adventure into the unknown is a common practice. It’s a part of the college experience. A life-changing moment that allows students to explore places and people they would have never even attempted to before. Students come back home with new ideas, new cultures, new pictures, new friends, and new memories. It’s fun. Leaving it all behind and trying something different is great.
But where to go? That’s the question that bugs everyone. Got to make the right decision! France? China? England? Japan? India?Â
But then, like a roadblock, a problem occurs. A single thought.
“Well, I can’t go there, obviously. It’s too dangerous. I don’t want to get raped or something.”
I don’t know how many times I’ve heard this around campus when girls are considering study abroad or even just traveling to another country. It is a legitimate fear that actually stops female students from even looking at some parts of the world. Most of Asia is usually off limits. South America is sketchy. Africa? Are you kidding?! So where do we go? Usually Europe or Australia. Relatively safer and westernized places. Places that women can feel more at home, have lower rates of violence, more forms of communication. And there is nothing wrong with wanting safety. As women, we face actual scary situations abroad.  So sure, why don’t we all just go to Australia? Or Italy or Spain? Deal!Â
There is definitely something wrong with this picture.
We are actually prevented from traveling around the world because of safety. Seriously?
Should women limit themselves?Â
Hell no!
Life isn’t Taken. Every time you travel abroad, you will not get kidnapped. Sure, that should be a worry. There are dangers. I highly doubt Liam Neeson will come save you if you make horrible decisions that land you on the global sex trade, so still be careful. Use common sense when traveling abroad. Actually, use common sense anywhere you go. That’s just, well, common sense. But travel to places you want to go. Just be aware of your surroundings. I know several girls who’ve been India and a friend who spent a month in Brazil. Really dangerous places, but they were careful and considerate to the fact that they were traveling in a very new place.
The unfair way women are treated all around the world isn’t our fault. It isn’t human nature; it isn’t something we should apologize for. It something we should work against. If you want to travel to southern India, do it. If you want to travel to Tanzania, do it. If you want to take a trip with friends through the mountains of Argentina, for God’s sake, do it! Take the single step and go for it.Â
As cliché as it sounds, the world is meant to be explored and if we allow men to keep traveling to unknown places without us, we’ll never forgive ourselves.
As Ms. Roosevelt once said, “A woman is like a teabag – you can’t tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.”
I agree. Now hop on a plane and get the hell out of here, you teabag. Â Â