On this blog, I talk a lot about how everyone can and should travel. I discuss how to save money, how to plan the best trips, and offer advice and inspiration as a budget backpacker. However, I offer this advice from a place of privilege. I am aware that as a white traveler, there are obstacles that I will never have to face. I reached out to Lucy, the author of Absolutely Lucy to ask about her experiences traveling as a woman of color. Her words have definitely opened my eyes, and I encourage you to read what she has to say!
Traveling as a Woman of Color – Words from Lucy
It was never an option for me to not be aware of race. Growing up in a mixed-race family – you’re aware of the differences in the way your family is treated. From the racist slurs of Paki at school to our house being egged when I was a teenager. Over the years I’ve been “dirty black bitch”, “brown scum”, “that Indian one” and “exotic” among a host of other names. As a traveler, I’ve seen my father followed around airports, and as a family, we’ve been followed down the street in Morocco and spat at by the local men. I’ve constantly been chatted up by men who are just looking to “collect the rainbow” – apparently, Mauritian girls are very sought after.
But although aggressive and unrelenting, it was never that stuff that bothered me the most. Instead, it was the more structural forms of racism – the way I was always put on a table with the other brown girls at school. The way you might report racist incidents to a teacher, but then be gaslighted and told: “they didn’t mean it”. Working as a journalist for several years – it was clear how the language changed abruptly when describing people of colour. It was actually one of the reasons I decided to leave journalism, because of the inherent racism that was clear in reporting and the expectation that a woman of colour would conform to that. Racism won’t disappear overnight, but everyone – whether explicitly racist or not – has a part to play in breaking down internalized and structural racism. It’s not good enough to say that you’re not racist. It goes beyond that and if you’re not uncomfortable, you’re not doing enough.
Traveling as a Woman of Color vs. as a White Woman
From talking to dozens of other solo female travelers and bloggers, most women WILL, at some point, experience catcalling or some kind of harassment on the streets in some countries. However, Lucy’s experience in Morocco is vastly different than my own in Italy, where men followed me around attempting proposals and strange conversations. My experience of a young boy in Haiti calling me “blanc” and rubbing dirt on my skin so that it was closer to his own was comical to me, instead of the aggressive names Lucy has been called in the past.
Remember, Learn, and Grow
In my experience, travelers, in general, are less likely to be bigoted or racist. It is up to us to remember the hundreds of stories like Lucy’s, learn to identify racism and bigotry within ourselves and others and grow as a group to stand up for one another. Travel is about experiencing different cultures around the world, and no one should be afraid to explore because of the color of their skin.
I would like to invite you to donate to the Black Lives Matter movement in the United States who is fighting to bring these experiences to light and prevent them from happening in the future. You can learn more about their movement here!
Thank you, Lucy!
Lucy is the solo female adventure travel blogger behind AbsolutelyLucy.com. She’s spent the last six years traveling the globe and sharing her colourful, and heartfelt adventures. Lucy is all about real, raw, honest tales of travel – no filter necessary. Check out her awesome article on dealing with racism as a BIPOC traveler!
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Thank you so much for posting this and thank you to Lucy for sharing her experience. It is so important that we remember our privilege when we travel, especially as travel bloggers. The way we describe the world and share recommendations don’t apply equally to all people. Great to hear other perspectives to get a better picture.
I completely agree. Thanks so much for reading!