My Travel Privilege as a White Female from the USA

Something that I always knew, but has been glaringly obvious in my travels thus far has been the privilege I possess when I travel. A lot of people do not realize this but travel is not equal for everyone. Money aside, which is an obvious obstacle for many, along with time, there are several more things people do not think of. For me, I am very conscious of three things while I am traveling: that I am white, that I speak English, and that I am from the United States. Each of them have complex histories and some may argue the negatives of each one but the truth is the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.

First, being from the USA is a huge plus for traveling. There may be some bad stereotypes about us but overwhelmingly people are excited to meet someone from the States. Being from such a well-known area allows people to ask me many questions and to be very interested in my travels. American media and culture is huge all over the world and people ask me a lot if things are like how they are in the TV shows (answer: mostly, no haha). Apart from the “coolness” that comes with being from the states, the passport is extremely powerful. We are able to enter 165 countries without a visa. Compare this with Somalia, who only has 38 countries that are visa-free. I have been able to enter countries easily, with just a long customs line and a quick stamp in my passport. A lot of people do not understand that others from different countries may not have it so easy. The only issue with being from the US is the occasional negative stereotype that comes my way but those have had little impact on me. The two most common ones are that 1) American girls are easy and 2) Americans are fat. The second one has actually happened to me a lot, almost everyone I have met on my travels is surprised to see I am thin and goes “I thought everyone from the States was fat”. It has actually been quite amusing but, statistically, the US is a lot bigger that the countries I am visiting.

The second advantage is that I am white. Although people associate the US with white people, the truth is that there are a lot of people from the US who are not white and travel – our experiences will be different. Racism exists everywhere in the world and people are less wary of me because of the way I look. People are less suspicious, nicer, and more willing to speak to me and help me if I am lost. Although I walk through the streets of Seoul looking different than everyone, the way I am treated and the reactions I get are different than if I were a person of color. I have spoken to travelers that are POC (people of color) and they talk about the difficulties. I think this is an issue that is not commonly spoken of and that can be subtle in how people are treated, but is very real. My opinions and experiences with racism will always be limited as I am from a position of white privilege. Whilst it is important to call out racial inequality and oppression, it is also important for me to recognize to not speak over people who have actually experienced this while traveling and have a much better idea of how it operates than I ever will. So, that is all I will say about that.

The last advantage I have is that I speak English. Although it has not been no walk in the park communicating and navigating in Asia, if there is another language on signs, or another language spoken by bus conductors, it is English. There are English menus, English brochures, English words in the subway. English, English, English! I cannot imagine how hard this would be if I didn’t understand English. I’m sure I would still be wandering around the subway in Taiwan….In addition, if I am ever short on cash, I am able to teach English anywhere as it is in high demand. For instance, I am currently getting free housing in exchange for English lessons. What a concept!

To wrap it up, this has been something that I have been thinking a lot about and try to remember at all times to fully comprehend my role in the society I travel in. Furthermore, it is helpful to research where you are going before you arrive so you are aware of local customs and traditions, along with how you may be perceived in the country. Although it may not make it any better, being educated does help at times.

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