Travelling and living as an expat is a passion for all genders, although women might not feel as safe as men for the massive violence cases all around the globe. But, on the other hand, that reality is changing. According to Harvard Business Review 2019, the number of women travelling alone has increased by more than 230%.
Migración Colombia also reported that between January and October 2018, women marked 44% of visitors in the country and 52.6% of total travellers abroad in the same time range. Still, according to the report, 8 out of 10 Latin American women are willing to travel alone.
The adventure of travelling outside of Latin America can sound exciting, but the problem is intrinsic in women's own origin, as Latinas might take an extra undesired bag or, worst, “luggage of stereotypes”, wherever they go. The words of the philosopher Simone de Beauvoir from the 90s have never been so up-to-date— “men are defined as a human being and woman as a female” – an expat woman whenever she travels abroad has her gender influencing many choices in life. “As a Latina author of this report living in Spain, for instance, when people ask about my nationality, or sometimes just by judging the colour of my skin and hair, they think I'm an ‘easy woman'”.
Expat experiences
France
Lili Tucto, a Peruvian expat living in Paris, France, went abroad first for studies and then for work. “I always wanted to live abroad to be able to meet people from different cultures.” She believes that there are positive stereotypes about being a Latin woman: positive “(happy, open-minded)” and negative ones “(tendency to infidelity, lack of commitment)”. However, she hasn't found herself in any situation of harassment or discrimination; on the contrary, she has been welcomed so far. “They treat me well; the fact of being Latina or coming from a different culture arouses people's interest or curiosity. I think that being able to speak the language fluently helps a lot to integrate naturally.”
France is a popular destiny for women expats looking for work. In 2019, it marked the 11th best countries worldwide to work by HSBC's annual rankings. In France, there are several support programs for expats interested in developing their business in the country. At this moment, Tucto is working in the management area of an entrepreneurship program and has a great experience in the work environment. “I have positive feedback; I relate harmoniously with my work colleagues in general.”
Spain
Georgina Santos da Silva, a Brazilian expat living in Madrid, Spain, believes that being Latina is a fundamental social characteristic in her life. According to the HSBC Expat Explorer Survey 2019, Spain ranks fourth as the best place to work and live. With previous experience in the States, Georgina moved to Spain to try a country with a “closer culture” to South America and also because she wanted to learn another language. But, even so, she thinks there are stereotypes associated with women in Latin America and in Brazil. “The main thing is that we are extremely sexualized, and unfortunately, this prevents us from living healthy relationships often outside of Brazil. We are also associated with getting married in order to live here. Since we arrived, we are here to “hunt gringos.” Afraid of being judged by these stereotypes, Georgina did not comment on her nationality in the first place to all people. “I am an Afro-descendant who speaks English fluently, I can ‘pass as an American”. But, when people find out, I hear all kinds of negative associations that I have mentioned before.”
Integration and safety
For Georgina and Lili, despite the stereotypes, as long as people give a chance to get to know them personally, they feel comfortable in their host countries. But, Georgina shares her expat concerns: “I always have the feeling that I will never be from here. They make it very clear that I am from South America and that for some political groups, including those in power in Madrid, this is a threat.”
Women as expats can also have issues with being equally recognized in the professional field abroad. Georgina arrived as a Spanish student, studying there for three years, after working as an Arts teacher. “I face a very strong competition here, mainly because they understand that good teachers are “native” and I am not a native of an English-speaking country either. But since I have a lot of experience and good references, I found work in this area. But, some had cancelled classes when they found out I am Brazilian”.
Often, expats having difficulties integrating can have more friends and colleagues from their home countries, especially when not feeling comfortable with locals. However, this premise isn't always true, as Lili comments. “I have friends from everywhere, Latino, European, Asian. I am not usually in conflict with my friends; we get along well in the common points that unite us.” However, for Georgina, it is easier to have friendships with your people from the same region. “I have friends from many places, but it is easier to have friends from Brazil. What a Spanish understands by friendship is totally different from what we Brazilians do.”
Although there are sexist stereotypes, moving around the city or going out alone as a woman in their host countries has not been a problem for these women expats in Europe. Georgina is relieved as she feels freer: “This is what I like the most about Spain. I never went through situations where I was scared on the street.” Lili, who lives in Paris is not afraid to relocate to the city either. In Peru, she had issues, though. “I have even made trips in Europe completely alone, in which I have met interesting people along the way. In Peru, it is much more difficult to do that, I lived in Miraflores, so I did not feel dangerous in my district, but I was a little more careful when I went to the centre of Lima or other districts with more people."
How can Latina expats feel better abroad?
Lili believes that the change not only for women expats but also for women travellers from Latin America abroad comes from education. “Through gender education, today's children will be the ones to decide tomorrow, internalizing the importance of gender equality is something that should be worked on at an early age”. In terms of current actions, she highlights the importance of sorority. For her, women should be more in solidarity, helping each other when living abroad, making their voices heard. These points could be possible through expat women supporting groups, for instance.
It's also a question of time—Georgina believes that the new generations in Spain already think differently about women from Latin America. “There is more cultural diversity nowadays, different from what was experienced by parents and grandparents. On the other hand, as long as we are simply seen as ‘poor countries', this vision that we are here to get married and have a better life will continue.”
