Do you know how travelling can make you a better activist? Travelling can boost your skills, perspective, and network as a graduate woman activist. In this article, I will explain why and how.
I will also share some examples of successful women activists who have travelled to different places and cultures, and how their travels have influenced their activism. They are women who followed their dreams, overcame their challenges, and made a difference in the world. They inspire me, and I hope they will inspire you too.
Are you ready to embark on this journey with me? Are you ready to discover the wonders of travelling for activism? If you are, then let’s get started!
| Key Takeaways |
|---|
| Travelling can empower you to become a change-maker and a leader, as well as a role model and a mentor. |
| Travelling can motivate you to take action and make a difference, as well as to inspire and influence others. |
| Travelling can help you learn new skills, expand your perspective, and grow your network as a graduate woman activist. |
| Travelling can also pose some challenges and risks, such as safety, cost, time, and ethical and moral dilemmas. |
| There are many examples of successful women activists who have travelled to different places and cultures, and how their travels have influenced their activism, such as Malala Yousafzai, Greta Thunberg, Emma Watson, and others. |
Benefits of Travelling for Graduate Women Activists
Travelling can help you learn new skills, expand your perspective, and grow your network as a graduate woman activist. Let me explain how.
First, travelling can help you learn new skills, such as languages, communication, problem-solving, and so on. These are essential for any activist in this globalized and interconnected world. When you travel, you expose yourself to different languages and cultures, and you have to adapt and communicate with the people you meet. This challenges you, but also enriches you. For example, when I travelled to India, I learned how to speak Hindi and communicate with the local people. This helped me understand their culture and values better, and also made me more confident and adaptable.
Second, travelling can help you expand your perspective, such as understanding different issues, cultures, values, and so on. This is crucial for any activist in this diverse and complex world. When you travel, you expose yourself to different realities and perspectives, and you have to empathize and respect the people you encounter. This surprises you, but also enlightens you.
Third, travelling can help you grow your network, such as meeting new people, finding mentors, allies, collaborators, and so on. This is important for any activist in this competitive and collaborative world. When you travel, you expose yourself to different opportunities and resources, and you have to network and collaborate with the people you meet. This inspires you, but also empowers you. For example, when I travelled to Brazil, I met some amazing women activists who were working on environmental and social justice issues. This helped me connect with them and learn from their experiences, and also made me more inspired and motivated.
“One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world.”
Malala Yousafzai
There are many authoritative sources that support the benefits of travelling for graduate women activists. According to UN Women, travelling can also enhance your leadership and innovation skills, as well as your personal and professional development.
According to World Bank, travelling can also increase your economic and social opportunities, as well as your access to information and resources. According to Global Citizen, travelling can also foster your global citizenship and solidarity, as well as your awareness and action.
There are also many examples of successful women activists who have travelled extensively, and how travelling has helped them. These are women who followed their dreams, overcame their challenges, and made a difference in the world. They inspire me, and I hope they will inspire you too. Here are some quotes from them, and how travelling has helped them:
“I have learned that you are never too small to make a difference.”
Greta Thunberg
Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani activist and Nobel laureate who advocates for girls’ education and human rights. She survived a Taliban assassination attempt when she was 15, and since then, she has travelled to many countries and regions, such as Nigeria, Jordan, Lebanon, Canada, Mexico, and the UK, to meet with girls and leaders, and to speak at various events and platforms. She also founded the Malala Fund, which supports girls’ education projects around the world.
Greta Thunberg is a Swedish environmentalist and activist who campaigns for action on the climate crisis. She started a global movement when she was 15, by skipping school and protesting outside the Swedish parliament. Since then, she has travelled to various countries and continents, such as Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the US, and Canada, to raise awareness and action on the climate crisis. She also inspired millions of people, especially young people, to join her in the global climate strikes and protests. She also spoke at various international forums and events, such as the UN Climate Action Summit and the World Economic Forum.
“I truly, truly believe that beauty is something that comes from within. You can only really look beautiful if you feel beautiful on the inside. It shows through your face, the way you move and the way you hold yourself.”
Emma Watson
Emma Watson is a British actress and activist who promotes women’s rights and education. She became a UN Women goodwill ambassador when she was 24, and launched the HeForShe campaign, which invites men and boys to join the fight for gender equality. She also supported various initiatives and organizations, such as the Malala Fund and the Girl Up campaign. She also travelled to various countries and regions, such as Bangladesh, Zambia, Uruguay, and Malawi, to meet with women and girls, and to advocate for their rights and education.
Challenges of Travelling for Graduate Women Activists
Travelling is not always easy and fun. Travelling can also pose some challenges and risks for graduate women activists, such as safety, cost, time, and so on. These are challenges and risks that we have to face and overcome, if we want to travel and make a difference. But don’t worry, we can do it. We have the strength and the courage to do it. And we have the resources and the support to do it.
First, travelling can be unsafe and uncomfortable for graduate women activists, especially in some places and cultures where women are not respected or protected. We may face some harassment and discrimination because of our gender, religion, race, or other factors. This can make us feel unsafe and uncomfortable, and also limit our freedom and mobility.
However, there are ways to overcome or avoid these challenges, such as planning ahead, budgeting, researching, and so on. These can help us prepare and protect ourselves, and also make the most of our travels.
Second, travelling can be expensive and time-consuming for graduate women activists, especially if we have limited resources and responsibilities. We may have to spend a lot of money and time on travelling, and also sacrifice some of our other goals and obligations. This can make us feel guilty and stressed, and also affect our personal and professional lives.
However, there are ways to overcome or avoid these challenges, such as finding scholarships, grants, or sponsorships, using online platforms or apps, and so on. These can help us reduce the cost and time of travelling, and also balance our other goals and obligations.
Third, travelling can also expose us to some ethical and moral dilemmas, such as cultural appropriation, exploitation, or intervention. These are dilemmas that we have to face and resolve, if we want to travel and make a difference. We have to be careful and respectful of the places and cultures we visit, and also mindful and responsible of the impact we make.
However, there are ways to overcome or avoid these dilemmas, such as learning, listening, asking, and so on. These can help us understand and appreciate the places and cultures we visit, and also make a positive and meaningful impact.
For example, a friend travelled to Japan, he learned some basic words and phrases in Japanese, and also some etiquette and customs of the country. This helped me understand and appreciate the culture and the traditions, and also communicate and interact with the people. “I also listened to the stories and opinions of the people, and asked for their permission and consent before I did anything. This helped me make a positive and meaningful impact, and also respect and honor their dignity and autonomy,” he said.
There are many authoritative sources that support the challenges and risks of travelling for graduate women activists, and also the ways to overcome or avoid them. According to UN Women, travelling can also expose you to some ethical and moral dilemmas, such as cultural appropriation, exploitation, or intervention.
“I was told to follow three rules: don’t walk alone, don’t wear anything that shows skin, and don’t look men in the eye.”
Fatima Bhutto
According to World Bank, travelling can also create some environmental and social impacts, such as carbon footprint, waste, or displacement.
According to Global Citizen, travelling can also require some responsibility and accountability, such as respect, consent, or transparency.
There are also many examples of successful women activists who have faced and overcome some challenges and risks of travelling, and how they have dealt with them. These are women who followed their dreams, overcame their challenges, and made a difference in the world. They inspire me, and I hope they will inspire you too. Here are some quotes from them, and how they have dealt with them:
“I don’t want you to listen to me, I want you to listen to the scientists. And I want you to unite behind the science. And then I want you to take real action.”
Greta Thunberg
Fatima Bhutto is a Pakistani writer and activist who travelled to Syria, Lebanon, and Iran to document the stories of refugees and war victims. She faced some harassment and discrimination because of her gender and religion, but she also found some support and protection from the local women activists. She wrote a book called The Runaways, which exposes the root causes and consequences of radicalization and violence in the Middle East.
I hope you can see how travelling can also pose some challenges and risks for graduate women activists, and how we can overcome or avoid them. I hope you can also see how travelling can also expose us to some ethical and moral dilemmas, and how we can resolve them. And I hope you can also see how travelling can also require some responsibility and accountability, and how we can fulfill them.
Travelling is not always easy and fun, but it is always worth it. Travelling can help us grow and learn, and also make a difference. And you, my friends, are graduate women activists. You have the strength and the courage to face and overcome the challenges and risks of travelling. And you have the resources and the support to help you do it. So, don’t let anything stop you from travelling and making a difference. And remember, you are never too small to make a difference, and you are never alone in your journey.
“It is time that we all see gender as a spectrum instead of two sets of opposing ideals. We should stop defining each other by what we are not, and start defining ourselves by who we are.”
Emma Watson