Picture this: You’ve been looking forward to studying abroad. When you finally get to your new city, everything is exciting and amazing…until it’s not and a stranger’s behavior makes you uncomfortable or scared. If this sounds familiar, we want you to know that you are not alone.
Unfortunately, each semester students report experiencing unpleasant social interactions or harassment during study abroad and we are writing to provide guidance to help you in those situations.
Street harassment is unwanted comments, gestures, or acts directed at someone without their consent. These behaviors can be annoying, persistent, and may put your personal safety at risk. Harassment can happen anywhere, to anyone. Harassment is unwelcome, inappropriate, and it is never your fault.
Remember that different cultures have varying attitudes and norms towards aspects of identity like gender, sexual orientation, religion, race, and ethnicity. Respecting and adapting to cultural differences does not mean that you need to submit to behaviors that cross your personal boundaries or make you feel unsafe or uncomfortable.
Many personal safety practices to deter crime can also help with street harassment. These practices are meant to encourage good personal safety habits and boost your confidence in public.
- Go out in groups, especially at night. You will be safer and feel more confident in a group.
- Research and understand your host country’s widespread perceptions, attitudes, and norms related to different aspects of identity like sexual orientation, race, religion, gender, ethnicity, disability, etc. This will help you know what to expect.
- Stay alert and pay attention to your surroundings. Trust your instincts. If something doesn’t feel right, leave (with your group).
- Try to blend in with the local population in your dress and behavior.
- Understand you don’t have to be polite. It’s okay to walk away from someone. It’s okay to say “no.”
- If you feel unsafe, try to create distance between you and the threatening person(s) and draw attention to yourself by yelling for help. Go to a busy public place like a store, restaurant, or hotel where you can ask for assistance.
Where to go for help:
- If in immediate danger or injured, call local emergency services (local 911 equivalent) or seek medical care at a hospital or clinic.
- Ask your program contacts for assistance.
- Contact International Safety and Security at safetyabroad@illinois.edu and we can identify additional resources for support. We encourage you to visit the Women’s Resources Center website, which supports all students.
- Gallagher insurance offers free in-person and remote mental health counseling for all Illinois study abroad students. Call Gallagher to request mental health support.
We wish you a safe and enjoyable study abroad experience.
Contact us: +1-217-333-1216 (through UIPD for emergencies/urgent matters); safetyabroad@illinois.edu (non-time sensitive requests)
For more information about how we support study abroad students visit: www.safetyabroad.illinois.edu