Studying abroad. It’s an adventure filled with new and thrilling moments in an unfamiliar city with amazing students you never would have met any other way.
Sounds great, right? Sure does to me, and it also seems to sound good to many more girls than boys.
Recent studies show there is on average 3-5 boys for every 30-35 girls who study abroad. In my own experience, my Costa Rica program had 2 boys for 12 girls, and in Switzerland, there was 2 boys for 23 girls. FSU’s Valencia program boasts of 80-100 students per summer session with usually 20-30 of those being boys. Last year’s Fall Florence program had eight boys out of 40 participants. The London program averages at ¼ of the participants being male.
Why is this? What makes studying abroad more appealing to girls as opposed to boys? I know out of sheer observation and networking among fellow travelers that it’s not because boys aren’t seeking out adventure and desiring to see the world as much as girls. So why year after year do girls drastically outnumber boys on the study abroad roster?
Perhaps sheer numbers could explain. Women make up nearly 60% of campus populations throughout the United States. Men are outnumbered to begin with. There’s that, but maybe there’s more to think through?
I took it to the streets, or should I say the virtual streets of mass questioning via social media, and asked a few colleagues why they personally think boys study abroad less than girls.
I’ve heard a wide variety of replies to this question from males themselves. Some say that the “study abroad” culture has become feminized, a trend and/or right of passage for college women. An FSU student [wishing to stay anonymous] says: “For girls, I think going abroad has turned into one of those things where it's a "thing”, where they [study abroad] to take pictures to put on their Instagram. Like it's hip or something…”
Others have claimed that boys tend to forgo studying abroad because they’ve found their niche at college and feel it unnecessary to leave and explore beyond their comfort zone, referring to a maturity level.
One FSU student studying abroad this summer said: “I think guys are more afraid to go over alone and have to meet new people. Especially after they have their ‘bros.’ I feel like girls usually go in packs on these trips.”
While these are valid opinions, majority of all answers led back to the idea that many, but certainly not all, males in college are majoring in degrees related to business, political science and engineering. FSU’s study abroad programs definitely cater more towards the liberal arts and social science degrees. Why spend a mass amount of money on courses that have no value towards pursuing your degree.
For me, neither of my programs had any real value towards my actual degree, but I learned Spanish in Costa Rica, which was a lifelong dream and has tangible value in today’s real world. In Switzerland, I learned more about the hospitality industry, which allowed me to hone in on the industry I would like to specialize in as a public relations professional. I also learned more about people, differing cultures and life in the process. But, it makes complete sense why many students who fall into the category of majors where there is underrepresentation in courses abroad choose to forgo the experience. In return, there seems to be less and less boys signing up.
Other studies have suggested that college-aged males may be more professionally driven to secure a stable career; whereas women may be subconsciously focused more on the “now” before the responsibilities of a family come into play, driving them to travel more while they can.
Others have suggested that perhaps boys prefer to independently travel at their own leisure as opposed to studying abroad, which creates a more stable, structured environment. I know in my experience, my parents felt much more at ease with me, being a girl, studying abroad when there was a program leader for added safety and security.
Of course, these reasons are not completely scientifically based, but they do give an insight into potentially explaining the lack of male representation in study abroad programs. Although the ratios prove year after year the lack of boys, it’s safe to say that there still are many out there pursuing their dreams and desires of seeing the world, whether that is through study abroad or independent travel.
“I chose to study abroad to be able to enclose myself in a new atmosphere and culture to be able to gain new knowledge and truly educate myself on world perspective. I am most excited for interaction with foreigners and being able to understand how their culture compares to that of the U.S.,” Adrian Romero, studying in Valencia, Spain with FSU, says.
“I want to be able to look at the world from a global perspective and that's just something you can't do by sticking in the US. I'm most excited about the uncertainty of what I'll be doing and where [I’ll go]. I'm really fascinated by the unexpected little things I'll learn and come across,” Joe Rock, also studying in Valencia, says.
“What started out as the usual fantasy conversation about traveling the world quickly became reality when I booked the flight and began planning. I wanted to go around Europe to get a taste of a place where there's rich, deep, and endless culture,” Kristof Kertesz, who is currently backpacking Europe this summer, says.
Clearly, there are boys that see the need to get out and explore the world, but the numbers don’t lie with the fact that boys simply aren’t studying abroad. There’s a million different ways to look at this dilemma, but there’s not an answer out there yet that isn’t derived from opinion or speculation. All I can really say to calm the mind of a girl who just found out there’s only a few boys out of an increasing amount of girls in her program is that no matter what the gender gap is, you will meet and discover students, professors and locals that will forever change your life.
Whether you’re a boy or a girl, keep on wanderlusting.
