As you are preparing to travel internationally, understanding your identities is an essential piece of pre-departure planning. You may be traveling and engaging in completely new cultural, legal, and historical contexts. It is important to navigate travel through the lens of intersectionality, which is a framework recognizing that our various social identities (such as race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, and ability) do not exist in isolation. Instead, they overlap, shaping both your personal worldview and how local communities will perceive and interact with you abroad. An environment that feels safe and welcoming for one aspect of your identity may present unique security or health challenges when combined with another.

As you prepare to go abroad, we encourage you to reflect on how your overlapping identities may be perceived, utilize the resources below to research your destination, and understand potential health, safety, and security implications.

First-Generation and Lower Socioeconomic Status (SES)

Individuals who are the first in their families to attend college or who come from backgrounds with limited financial resources often navigate international travel without an existing generational safety net. Early coordination of resources, especially university travel health insurance, is essential to prevent unexpected out-of-pocket medical costs and financial hurdles. Consider how you will manage the day-to-day pressure of costs abroad, like social activities or a fluctuating exchange rate, without compromising your financial stability.

Resources:

  • First Generation Foundation – Support Network – Offers peer networking and structural guides on budgeting, emergency fund management, and adapting to socio-economic class dynamics in foreign countries.
  • WashU’s Student Financial Services – Available to cross-reference how financial aid packages, stipends, or WashU-sponsored scholarships apply to international health insurance and programmatic travel costs.
Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation

Cultural expectations surrounding gender roles, appropriate dress, and public behavior differ significantly worldwide. Travelers, particularly women, female-presenting, and gender-nonconforming travelers, often face distinct safety considerations, ranging from street harassment to systemic restrictions on independence and mobility. Local laws regarding reproductive health, emergency contraception, and reporting mechanisms for gender-based violence vary significantly by jurisdiction. Legal protections, societal acceptance, and cultural norms regarding sexual orientation and gender identity vary drastically around the globe. In some destinations, all relationships and expressions of identity are fully celebrated; in others, same-sex conduct, identifying as transgender or non-binary, or presenting outside traditional gender norms can carry severe legal penalties, state surveillance, or acute physical risks.

Think about what strategies you can practice to confidently handle unwanted attention without escalating a situation. Consider how your identity, relationship status, and public expression may be perceived locally. Pay close attention to digital security, including dating app usage, social media privacy, and device searches at borders, and plan how you will balance authentic self-expression with practical safety considerations.

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Health, Accessibility, and Neurodiversity

Physical accessibility, sensory environments, and the availability of specific medication and health care treatment look vastly different outside the United States, where the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does not apply. Neurodivergent travelers (such as individuals with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, or sensory processing differences) may have to navigate additional hurdles regarding executive functioning under stress, highly unfamiliar sensory stimuli, or strict foreign laws regarding stimulant medications. Travelers are encouraged to research how disabilities and neurodiversity are viewed socially in your host culture, and consider how you might be able to self-advocate for your needs in a space where formal accommodations may not exist.

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International Students and Scholars

Travelers holding visas (such as F-1 or J-1) face a unique set of regulatory and safety considerations when traveling outside the United States. Your ability to re-enter the United States to resume your studies or research at WashU depends on you maintaining your immigration status.  Additionally, your country of citizenship dictates your entry visa requirements for your destination, which may differ significantly from U.S. citizens. If your program involves any excursions outside of your primary host country, check to see if there are any visa requirements.

Before making plans to study or conduct research abroad, you must review WashU’s Office for International Students and Scholars travel webpages and connect with your OISS adviser for necessary updates to your immigration record.

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Military Affiliation and Veterans

Veterans and active-duty or reserve military service members traveling abroad may encounter unique security parameters, particularly concerning federal status, proximity to local geopolitical conflicts, and utilization of military health benefits. Service members must complete unit-level security protocols to receive official travel authorization prior to departure. Reflect on how your past military service or affiliation may be perceived by the local community and determine how much context about your background you are comfortable sharing.

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Political Affiliation and Civic Engagement

Political beliefs, civic values, and forms of expression that are commonplace in the United States may carry vastly different social, legal, and safety implications abroad. Foreign nationals generally do not enjoy the same constitutional protections for political speech or civic action as local citizens, and many host countries explicitly prohibit non-citizens from participating in political rallies, demonstrations, or electoral campaigns. Travelers who hold strong political affiliations or engage in civic expression are encouraged to research how political discourse is regulated socially and legally in their host culture. Practice digital and physical discretion, and consider how expressing your beliefs publicly, academically, or online might impact your personal safety and visa status.

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Race, Ethnicity, and Heritage

When traveling abroad, your race, ethnicity, or heritage may be perceived differently than it is in the United States. Travelers may experience being viewed primarily as “American” rather than by their specific race, while heritage seekers (those traveling to a country tied to their ancestry) may navigate complex expectations regarding language and cultural belonging. Consider how the racial and ethnic dynamics of your destination might affect how you are perceived.

Resources:

  • All Abroad.us – A clearinghouse for advice, information and mentors to encourage more diversity within study abroad. This site includes group-specific information for African American, Asian American, Native American, and Latinx travelers.
  • Diversity Abroad Community Platform – An international organization offering extensive student articles, destination guides, and community networks focused on minority student experiences.
  • GoAbroad Reports – Comprehensive digital booklets written by travelers of color detailing first-hand accounts of navigating race in different cultures.
  • U.S. Department of State – Racial and Ethnic Minority Travelers – Official federal guidance on encountering racial dynamics and safety tips abroad.
  • WashU’s Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI) – Connect with the CDI to discuss intersectional identity preparation, engage in pre-departure reflection, or process your experiences upon returning to campus.
  • WashU Cross-Cultural Connections (CCxN) – Access resources, workshops, and peer networks designed to help navigate cultural adaptation, build intercultural communication skills, and foster meaningful connections both before you travel and after you return.
  • WashU Dialogue Across Difference (DxD) – Engage in programs and facilitated conversations that strengthen intercultural communication, explore perspectives across cultures, and build skills for respectful dialogue. DxD can also help you prepare to navigate cultural differences you may encounter while abroad and reflect on those experiences when you return. You can also enroll in our 8-week 1 credit elective dialogue courses to explore multiple perspectives and engage across difference.
  • WashU Office for International Student Engagement (OISE) – Connect with international students and globally minded peers to learn about the cultures, customs, and perspectives of your destination country before departure. OISE also provides opportunities to build friendships and continue global engagement after returning to campus.
Religion, Faith, and Spirituality

Your religious practices, dietary requirements, or visible religious garments may draw varying levels of attention or restrictions depending on your destination’s dominant political or religious framework. Determine what structural support or local networks exist in your host city to help you maintain your spiritual routines.

Resources:

This list is intended as a resource and is not a comprehensive representation of all traveler identities and resources. For additional guidance or to discuss concerns related to your individual circumstances, please contact Global Travel Safety. If you would prefer a confidential discussion, International SOS representatives are also available to assist you.