Diversity & Inclusion

As you prepare for your study abroad program, you'll want to consider aspects of your identity and how these may be perceived and treated in the cultures you'll be spending time in. We encourage you to do some research into social norms, cultural mores, and local practices before your program begins. You'll want to participate as much as possible in the host culture and should be prepared for the experience, which can be both personally challenging and rewarding.

CGEE Student stories (videos)

For students that feel comfortable sharing, CGEE has asked program participants at the end of their program to reflect on their own experiences on navigating their identities abroad during a CGEE program. While we currently do not have Central America or Yucatán specific videos, we do have a collection of interviews gathered from our Cuernavaca, Mexico location. Hearing from students can be incredibly powerful in helping you think about your own identity abroad.

Or, watch the entire "Your Identity Abroad" playlist we have curated for you.

additional resources

External sources that discuss navigating your identity abroad that we find useful:

On Navigating Race and Ethnicity Abroad:

On the CIA World Factbook website, look for your host country’s page and research the “People and Society” section, where you can find the breakdown by ethnic group, religion, and race.
Visit the PLATO (Project for Learning Abroad, Training, and Outreach) resource page about diversity in study abroad, with information for African-American, Asian/Pacific Islander American, Hispanic-American, and Native American students preparing to study abroad.
Unpacked: A Study Abroad Guide for Students Like Me
Diversity Abroad Student Perspectives: The Benefits of Being a Minority Abroad

International Resources for LGBTQIA+ Individuals:

International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ilga): Country specific information related to legal rights and social climate.
Amnesty International Human Rights: Amnesty International is a global movement that campaigns to end human rights abuses.
Global Gayz.com: Journal website documenting the travels of LGBT persons throughout the countries and cities all over the world.
International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission: IGLHRC protest and advance the human rights of all people and communities subject to discrimination or abuse based on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or HIV status.
Rainbow SIG: Rainbow SIG goals include counseling international students and study abroad students who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.
National Center for Transgender Equality, Airport Security: This website focuses on trans discrimination during security procedures in airports.
LGBTQ Travel Safety

Accessibility Abroad:

Mobility International USA: Information on education and travel for people with disabilities.
Abroad with Disabilities: Facebook page started by Juanita Lillie, a student from Grand Valley State University who studied abroad in Costa Rica, as a resource for other students with disabilities who wish to study, intern, volunteer, or work abroad. The page posts and compiles many great resources, and seeks to be a space where students can openly ask questions to others and also share their experiences abroad and make suggestions for future students.
wheelchairtravel.org This blog is written by a wheelchair user with physical accessibility details about cities all over the world.
Check with the embassies of the countries you expect to visit to make sure your medications are not illegal there. For more information visit Mobility International’s medications tip sheet.