What Does White Privilege in Travel Look Like?
Let’s talk about white and western world privilege in travel, shall we?
While the title says white privilege, I'm also including western world privilege (also known as first world privilege) which is defined as:
White Privilege: systematic and social advantages given to white people beyond what is experienced by people of color under the same social, political and economic circumstances
Western/First World Privilege: unearned social, systematic and socio-economic advantages by being a national of a western/first world country.
Disclaimer: first/second/third world labels are problematic and offensive, but I have used “first world privilege” along side western world privilege in the above definition as I know the former is commonly used.
Our privileges, whether stemming from race, gender, socioeconomic, sexuality or religion, shapes who we are. Recognizing how our identity grants us advantages in society is the first step to change. We have to recognize how we contribute to the problem in order to fix it.
Before we go down this conversation of privilege…
I want to make it very clear that there is absolutely no reason to feel guilty, ashamed or attacked for recognizing your privilege. You are not inherently flawed or wrong. You do, however, benefit from systems that grant advantages to those who are white more so than people of color. So, really, the social and institutionalized systems that uphold whiteness and reward you with advantages that aren’t available to others are really what needs to be dismantled.
But, sitting comfortably in your privilege while knowing others aren’t treated the same contributes to the hurdle of fighting for social justice. In order to inspire change, we have to recognize how we contribute to the problem, as well as the biases and behaviors we have subconsciously learned that dictate how we navigate through this world.
White privilege does not mean that you do not struggle; it means that you do not deal with the struggles of racial discrimination in a society built on institutionalized racism
The connection between western and white privilege is that most travelers are from western countries and, therefore, mostly white. However, there are citizens of western countries who are not white who still have social privileges that contribute to these unethical behaviors. Even with the latter distinction, white privilege in travel still prevails as western non-white travelers experience discrimination while traveling and are often met with disbelief when people find out how well-traveled they are.
Privilege is complex, so I challenge you to not get hung up on what doesn’t apply to you, but to consciously reflect on what does.
How white and western privilege connects to your travel behaviors
Of course, we bring these privileges and our subconscious behaviors with us while we’re traveling. If it’s causing so many problems for us in the States, then obviously it’s going to cause harm to the people of the places we travel to. White and western privilege lead people to navigate the world with entitlement because they subconsciously know their identity is favored systematically more so than others.
Below are some of the unethical behaviors I have noticed by white/western travelers. Let me be super frank here and say I am definitely guilty of having done some of these, so please take this opportunity to reflect. We are all on the path to growth and recognizing where we have done wrong is how we can be better travelers.
All in all, traveling in itself is a privilege, not a right. Instead of acting like the world is our oyster and we can frolic around wherever and however we want, it’s time we understood our role as guests and travel far more ethically, respectfully and sustainably.
So, what are some performative traits of people who have this kind of privilege while traveling?
Ignoring local customs by feeling entitled to act/express themselves however they want, where ever they want
White and western world privilege ignites an unearned entitlement that we can act and express ourselves however we want, where ever we want without any regard for others. In travel, this can be translated to these examples, but of course not limited to:
Not taking shoes off or covering up in temples
Walking around in a bikini in a conservative island/tropical nation where signs specifically say not to
Yelling/being rude to people when politeness is the cultural norm when dealing with disputes
Not attempting to learn the local language and expecting everyone to speak english
This is also commonly known as “anglo-privilege,” which intersects with both white and western privilege. Even though English is generally globally spoken, it is incredibly disrespectful to not attempt to learn any part the local language. It is entitled to expect everyone to accommodate you and speak English. While no one expects you to be fluent, a “hello,” “thank you” and ordering your food goes very far and shows respect.
Bargaining over the difference of $1
While bargaining is expected in some countries, haggling over the difference of a few dollars is disrespectful considering a few dollars for you is pocket change, but can literally feed the family of the merchant you're buying from.
This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t bargain. In fact, it is common practice in most countries. But, once you get down to a fair price, haggling over the nitty-gritty of a few dollars is inept to the different socio-economic standings between you as a privilege westerner and the person you’re buying from.
Abusing resources
Not being mindful of your ecological footprint completely disregards any care for the country you're visiting. Tourists often use a majority of resources, leaving locals with so much less. This lack of consciousness and attitude of limitlessness is rooted in entitlement and shows that you believe your comfort for a short period of time is more important than the people who actually live there.
Using single-use plastics
Similar to the last point, leaving an excessive amount of plastic and waste disregards the often weak infrastructure of poorer nations. It is an entitled expectation that the locals will take care of it, which often is not the case.
While we cannot solely blame travel for the global plastic problem, we have to take environmental responsibility and commit to using less plastic. Especially since us travelers see and experience the world most and, therefore, should take more responsibility in preserving its beauty.
You can limit your single-use plastics while traveling by packing a reusable:
coffee cup
water bottle for filtered water refills, or LifeStraw has a water bottle with a heavy duty water filter in it if you want to fully avoid using plastic (I have used LifeStraw during my travels in South East Asia)
food container to use for street food instead of styrofoam or plastic plates
cutlery
shopping bag
It may seem inconvenient at first, but it is a small price to pay for keeping the communities you are visiting clean.
Indigenous cultural commodification
Indigenous cultural commodification means exploiting someone's culture and traditions by turning their way of life into a commodity. Examples of this include “long neck village” in Thailand, slum tours and tribal tours.
While being curious about someone’s culture and wanting to learn more is one thing, paying to take a cultural tour where the local community isn’t involved in the planning or allocation of profits can be detrimental socially, culturally and economically.
Economic leakage, which means when profits are taken out of the host country and implemented elsewhere, leads to negative indigenous cultural commodification. Basically, if the local community wants to profit off showing tourists their culture, then that can be very enriching and empowering for the community. However, if an outside business comes in and turns the local culture into a commodity where they take the profits out of the host country, then that is exploitation.
The only way to combat this is to do your research and always purchase from locally owned businesses, including accommodation, tours, restaurants and any form of shopping. Everything comes down to money and the only way tourism can be beneficial for the host community is if they receive the profits from people visiting their home.
Traveling to dangerous countries, then complaining about your safety
Some privileged travelers love gawking at those less fortunate and putting themselves in dangerous situations. Why? Perhaps for the "thrill," which is literally someone else's daily life.
Travel bloggers traveling to dangerous countries to then complain about the danger they experienced and criticize the country for it on their blogging platforms is incredibly problematic, disrespectful and entitled. Especially since they get to retreat to the safety of their own homes where they tell their "horrifying" experiences as travel story anecdotes.
If you decide to travel to a notoriously dangerous location, accept the responsibility of your safety as your own.
Racism
Plenty of white tourists bring their racism with them while traveling. This belief of white superiority is expressed through the entitlement of thinking that the locals are there to serve you and that you are doing them a favor by traveling to their country. Also and obviously, there's blatant racism of expressing racial slurs/stereotypes of the people of that nation. Of course, there are plenty more and countless displays of racism
Traveling as a check list
Traveling to as many countries as possible just to brag or boast 30 flags in your Instagram profile is deeply rooted in colonialist ideals. It displays a "conquerer" and ownership attitude, as opposed to treating travel as an educational and life enriching experience. If you find the amount of countries you have traveled to is more important than what you have learned along the way, then that is inherently problematic.
This is usually influenced by “drive-by tourism” where tourists focus more-so on hitting as many locations as possible rather than spending time in one place to fully delve into the culture. This type of travel is incredibly unsustainable and also creates poor visitor-to-resident relations.
Not researching the country or its history
It is incredibly ignorant to not do any research of the country you're visiting. More likely than not, knowing the history of a country will give you important context clues about how to navigate and act while traveling. While you don’t need to be an expert in the country’s history, having basic knowledge of the country can raise your consciousness about how to navigate the country more responsibly.
PSA: Travel is a privilege
Never forget that. To be able to travel the world and have a passport that grants you access is an incredible privilege that is denied to many. Traveling is an outward display of privilege, so it's important to be mindful and conscious about how you treat people and their country. Show up with respect and travel ethically.
I’m ending this post with reassurance that you are not a terrible person for having white and/or western privilege. This knowledge is only suppose to open your consciousness so you can be more mindful about traveling responsibly, ethically and sustainably.