COVID-19: the intersection of travel privilege and responsibility
I read an amazing article today. I’ll link it here. You can read it too, if you’d like. For anyone who finds themselves drawn to travel, this article did a remarkable job of putting a pin in the reason why I, an avid proponent of traveling in uncertain and sometimes unstable situations, feel such a deep set aversion to traveling amid COVID-19 chaos.
If you’ll entertain it, I’d love to further elaborate to the article as it resonates with me. I’d like to explain why I’m hesitant to encourage travel and why I find myself siding with the companies, travel centric and otherwise, who have taken measures to enforce social distancing (because lord knows there are people out there who flaunt the fact that they’re not). Emphasis on me— my own personal opinions.
Ahem.
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Very rarely am I daunted by travel. I have traveled to very safe countries as frequently as I have ventured to countries with travel advisories. In part, I travel to fuel my selfish desire to see new places and embark on new experiences. The other part of my commitment to traveling is less self serving. With every trip I take, I aim to bring attention to the humanity and beautiful cultural intricacies of the unfamiliar. The abnormalities of other countries are rarely wrong or dangerous; they’re just different. I strive to bring that to light with my writing and photos.
In normal circumstances, I am a travel proponent, through and through. And so with the COVID-19 outbreak, I’m forced to draw the line where normal stops and abnormal begins. As I see it presently, we’re no longer in normal circumstances. Yet, right now, travel is more accessible than ever to some....
Tickets to the furthest corners of the world are at all time lows. People who sit at their desks Monday through Friday are now working remote until further notice. Crowds are fewer, waits are shorter. And for some of us, we’re less likely to fall ill by merit of our age and genetics. Just as life carries on in our hometowns (though perhaps in a modified sense), so does life in other cities. There’s a case to be made for traveling amidst the current global health situation.
Sure, international travel has been curtailed. But for how long? There’s no code of conduct or “best practice” domestically. There’s no policing or regulatory body telling us what we can and cannot do. In this new frontier of global pandemics and travel, we must govern our decisions with morality and mindfulness. To do so, though, necessitates a conversation around travel privilege.
I want to put this very plainly: It is a privilege to travel.
It’s a duty, not a privilege, to consider how your travel impacts others.
Yes. Travel is a force for good during uncertain times. Your words, your experiences, your creative eye can be testaments to the humanity of misunderstood or misrepresented places. But— here is the but— the goodness of travel stops where your privilege is misused. And travel privilege is misused when it does not take into account anyone but yourself.
To travel for leisure during the COVID-19 pandemic is to take the gamble that you will not contract the virus. And whether you are concerned by your risk of contracting COVID-19 or not, you must not underestimate the ways your actions can put others at involuntary risk.
If you’re thinking of traveling for leisure right now, I challenge you to examine your travel privilege. I challenge you to be mindful of the ways your travel privilege may inadvertently impact other humans on a local or global scale. Above all, I simply encourage you to to approach travel from a place of caution.
I do not urge you to cancel your flights, just as I do not urge you to book a last minute flight. With more information at our deposal each day, it’s our responsibility to become experts on COVID-19. Whatever you do decide, do so with an abundance of information informing your decision. That is your responsibility.
And hear me loud and clear when I say this: some people should, and will, chose to travel right now. For reasons personal and professional that may range from healthcare to finances, it’s irresponsible to not look after yourself at a certain point. It is no one’s business but your own to decide whether your travel is responsible or not. And should you chose to travel, you do take on the burden of doing so responsibly: social distancing, washing hands, sanitizing seats, etc. Your health and the health of those around you is of utmost importance.
I challenge you to make the right decision for you.
Be well, healthy and happy.
XX Syd
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Hello beautiful readers! I want to share something additional as it pertains to privilege.
There is travel privilege, and there is situational privilege. COVID-19 is really scary for a lot of people who are facing less than ideal situations. To help put situational privilege into perspective, I shared a list to my instagram stories earlier this week with the intent of opening up a conversation around empathy. The response was warm, positive, and encouraging— I hope this opens your eyes and finds you just as warmly.
This list details a small snapshot of people whose livelihood and health are being impacted by COVID-19.
The elderly or immunocompromised population who have a much higher risk of contracting COVID-19
People without access to healthcare in their current employment situation, state or country of residence, or financial situation.
Graduating seniors and individuals who are unemployed or between jobs who now face rapidly diminishing job prospects amidst hiring freezes and a plummeting economy.
Doctors, nurses, politicians, and any other public-facing worker whose job puts them on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Individuals whose trade or field of work, and thus source of income, has been impacted economically by pandemic (Travel, events, the arts, etc.).
Students who get one, two, or all three meals a day from their public schools, which, in many states, have now been closed until the end of the month.
People who feel isolated as a result of working from home, city containment ordinances, self containment practices, etc.
College students whose dorms have been closed when they may not have a safe or stable home environment to return to.
Local or indigenous communities who are able to keep their practices and traditions alive with the contributions from tourism.
People who are susceptible to severe anxiety or emotional distress
Parents who are still expected to work when their kids’ school has been cancelled
People whose companies have implemented work from home policies despite their situational inability to do so
Humans who are scared or hurting for any of of the other 1 million reasons not listed here
Be mindful of what you say and how you act. Check your privilege, and keep your friends in line, too. Practice empathy. Lend a helping hand to those who are impacted where you are able— here’s some ideas for anyone who is unsure of where to begin.
Again- be well, be healthy, be happy. 💖
