Gender Identity Abroad

Do you have a current passport you are willing to travel on? If so, does it reflect your gender identity, or does it reference your assigned gender at birth? 

Do all of your ID documents have the same gender marker?

Do you have any concerns about your gender expression not being represented by your passport or other ID documents? 

In some countries, you may be asked for binary sex information (M or F) according to what is written on your legal documents. For example, this may be asked when you apply for a student visa.

Please be aware of this, especially if your legal documents indicate a sex assigned at birth that you don't identify with, or if your documents indicate an X gender marker and you're travelling in a country that doesn't legally recognize third genders. There are times when you may be legally obligated by your host country to use a different gender marker and we recognize this may cause you discomfort. 

Do not hesitate to contact our office for support. There are still ways that we can support you in protecting your wellbeing and help set expectations for your lived experience abroad (in some cases, legal requirements for binary sex does not reflect social attitudes towards gender and the flexibility of gender expression in daily life). 

Canada fully introduced the X gender marker on passports in 2019. In the years since, some countries around the world have started offering X or other third-gender options on legal documents. However, not all countries recognize this gender designation, and the Canadian government recommends people reach out to embassies directly for guidance. 

We know this may be a barrier for some students and have initiated this conversation with embassies ourselves. Please contact our office for more information.

Are there any HRT-related medications (hormones, blockers, etc.) that you use at home? Will you be able to bring them with you? Are these medications legal and/or accessible in your host country? 

Do you use any non-medical gender-affirming items (binders, prosthetics, etc.)? If you plan to wear these to the airport, are you prepared for the possibility of being flagged for additional screening when crossing security?

Generally, travelling with hormones, blockers, or other HRT-related medications is treated like travelling with other prescription medications: it should be brought in your carry-on, in the original packaging with your name on the prescription container. Bring only enough for your trip (an excessive amount may raise questions) and bring your prescription. 

Complications may arise when entering countries where your medication is not legal or not recognized. You may be required to bring extra documentation with you or apply for advance permission to bring your medication. 

There may also be cases where you have to source your medication locally upon arrival. Check with your insurance provider to ensure suitable coverage. International SOS can also help with finding local medical providers (they may or may not be able to fill the prescription from your home doctor). 

Although not many past UCalgary students have offered to share their stories, know that there have been multiple students on our programs who travelled successfully with HRT-related medications. If you are willing to be open about your situation, please do not hesitate to contact our office; our advisors would be happy to support you in researching how to bring your medications with you.

As you prepare for your trip and reflect on some of the uncertainties you may face regarding medication, documentation, gender norms in your destination country, etc., you may find that your overall wellbeing and mental health is impacted. Having a support network at home can be valuable to offset some of the challenges that come up in your travel preparation. Speaking with your Global Learning Advisor is also strongly recommended - we are here to help!

Please refer to the Mental Health Abroad page for more comprehensive advice and resources to help you protect your wellbeing. 

What do you know about gender norms & expectations in your host country/city? Gender may be reflected in more or less obvious ways: clothing, vocal tone, body language, etc. Are there differences compared to how you present your own gender at home? 

What are common attitudes towards gender diversity in your host country/city? How do these attitudes come across in news, social media, or pop culture? 

Full understanding of your host culture abroad likely won’t come until you have spent time travelling and living in that area. However, we strongly recommend doing some research before you go. This will help you get an idea of what to expect in terms of the local culture’s approach towards 2SLGBTQIA+ identities.

Consider the language of your host country. Does it have grammar dependant on the assumed gender of the subject or speaker? Are there different words used depending on the gender of the speaker? Some of the terminology developed in North American diaspora communities may not be used universally (e.g. Latinx is used as a gender-neutral term in many Spanish-speaking North American communities, but may not be recognized in other Spanish-speaking countries).

Gender expression is also culturally nuanced. How gender roles are understood and presented often informs the way that people interact with each other in society. You may find there are concepts of gender in your host country that are different from Canada, and that locals in your host country utilize different things to express both binary and non-binary gender identities. It’s also important to note that just because another culture recognizes a third gender or non-binary gender does not guarantee that it is a valued or respected identity in that culture.

Do you want to be open about your gender identity while studying abroad? How open would you like to be with your friends, classmates, teachers, or strangers? 

Are there situations where you might not want to be open or choose to closet yourself? Is this a choice you can make freely and be comfortable with? 

Do you have “passing privilege”? Is there a possibility you will be perceived as a gender that contradicts your identity? How can you respond to these situations safely? 

Based on what you currently know about your host country/city, how do you anticipate your gender may impact your study abroad experience?

Gender identity is understood differently around the world. Expectations around gender roles, which genders are legitimized (socially or legally), and even the ways that people interact with each other depending on their gender (whether known or assumed) - these will vary between regions, countries, and cities. 

Being in a new environment like this may be intimidating. The reality is that no matter how much you prepare, you will likely experience culture shock. As you spend more time in your host country and observe how gender plays out in the communities around you. you may find yourself more sensitive to how locals respond to your own gender.

If you choose to come out while abroad, keep in mind that coming out will look different across cultures. The way that you normally use clothing, language, behaviour, etc. to present your gender at home might be misinterpreted abroad as being "more cis" or "more queer" than you are used to, and require more emotional labour for you to come out explicitly. 

But these challenges are also an opportunity for growth! Exploring how other cultures understand gender and gender diversity may help you form a stronger understanding of your own gender and the ways that you're comfortable expressing yourself. 

We want to support you in making the choice that is right for you!

One past UCalgary student approached their study abroad being very open about their nonbinary identity. They later shared with our advisors that they were surprised by how welcoming people in their host culture were. Although their host university abroad required a binary gender to create their university ID, their professors and classmates respected their name and pronouns, and they never felt left out socially. 

Conversely, we have also had cases where students chose to closet themselves during their time abroad. One student shared that the reason why they chose to do this was because they felt anxious about mitigating the anxiety of code-switching or altering their identity presentation within a different culture.

However you choose to present your identity - whether by coming out, staying in the closet, or changing your presentation throughout your time abroad - is valid, as long as you are making that decision freely. Think about your priorities, comfort level, and what you need for your personal well-being. Don't hesitate to contact a Global Learning Advisor if you have any concerns or want to talk it through.