The Classism of Travel Culture

Travel isn’t a personality trait—and thinking it makes you better than others? That’s just classism with a passport stamp. ✈️💸

#ClassismInTravel #TravelPrivilege #NotEveryoneCanTravel #WealthAndWanderlust #TravelDebate #WhoGetsToSeeTheWorld #Travel #Overtourism

Joe Lilli
 

  • @yue_river says:

    you get ittt

  • @ZaydaFleming says:

    My parents have traveled to a few countries scattered around the globe and are some of the most closed minded people I have ever dealt with.

    • @manuntdforever9760 says:

      I’ve also known ppl who travel *a lot* and are some of the least empathetic ppl I’ve met. It’s wild lol 😅

    • @belugaflying says:

      I think these types of people are the reasons everyone out side of America dislikes americans…

    • @SweeteastEscape says:

      Was about to make the same comment! I’ve never met anyone as ignorant as my parent who goes to countless countries for work, or the peers from high school who hopped continents each Summer break.

  • @marias-i3333 says:

    Honestly, we can all use the reminder to be less elitist, especially when it comes to things that are so dependant on having money

    • @Sasu123456789x1 says:

      Yup

    • @katfayegarrett3872 says:

      ❤🎉

    • @BL8DM8N says:

      Hold on guys….This may be radical but hear me out on this one: Registered party & votes should be required info on all forms of ID. Every country (and even US cities tbh) should check it before allowing travelers, and every republican should be banned. Police should patrol tourist sites and mandatorily perform voter registration checks. Republicans get publicly shamed, arrested, named on a public watchlist, and deported back to America permanently.
      If they wanna live in a surveillance state so bad, then let’s give it to them. That’s what they voted for, after all. And if the conservatives start doing the same thing to us, it’ll only harm them, because the red states depend on us. Not the other way around.
      Replying seven words or more to boost the algorithm <3

  • @lolalee2266 says:

    And people who glorify travel treat other cultures as something to be consumed; something meant to enrich them rather than something to contribute to and be a part of. I have more respect for immigrants who can’t travel/only travel home and back, than for those who treat the countries of the world like their own personal tasting menu.

    • @leahmanderson298 says:

      Yes, travel is just the current “socially acceptable” form of consumption. It’s also horrific for the environment!

    • @EnergeticEmpatheticExhausted says:

      And the sad thing is lots of travel destinations are reflecting this and removing the parts of the culture that really make it what it is – ie the poor parts that make these types of people uncomfortable. They’ll gentrify the world.

    • @plasticfrank says:

      Tourism is next level consumerism. Absolutely.

    • @BL8DM8N says:

      Hey…… This may be radical but hear me out on this one: Registered party & votes should be required info on all forms of ID. Every country (and even US cities tbh) should check it before allowing travelers, and every republican should be banned. Police should patrol tourist sites and mandatorily perform voter registration checks. Republicans get publicly shamed, arrested, named on a public watchlist, and deported back to America permanently.
      If they wanna live in a surveillance state so bad, then let’s give it to them. That’s what they voted for, after all. And if the conservatives start doing the same thing to us, it’ll only harm them, because the red states depend on us. Not the other way around.
      Replying seven words or more to boost the algorithm <3

    • @Pomagranite167 says:

      @EnergeticEmpatheticExhausted eh they aint gentrifying the world, just the resorts. Which is what the resort was always meant to be. A way to experience “another country” without having to interact with the actual culture and people.

  • @buuuuuuuuuu says:

    I have seen a lot of people that travel being like “omg my eyes have been open to the unfairness in the world” LOOK AT THE STATE OF YOUR OWN CITY, there is the same misery in here and you dont even care about that

    • @heretolearnCA says:

      YES 👏

    • @Sasu123456789x1 says:

      @@buuuuuuuuuu good point

    • @BL8DM8N says:

      This may be radical but hear me out on this one: Registered party & votes should be required info on all forms of ID. Every country (and even US cities tbh) should check it before allowing travelers, and every republican should be banned. Police should patrol tourist sites and mandatorily perform voter registration checks. Republicans get publicly shamed, arrested, named on a public watchlist, and deported back to America permanently.
      If they wanna live in a surveillance state so bad, then let’s give it to them. That’s what they voted for, after all. And if the conservatives start doing the same thing to us, it’ll only harm them, because the red states depend on us. Not the other way around.
      Replying seven words or more to boost the algorithm <3

    • @pisceanbeauty2503 says:

      Right. Reminds me of the white kids volunteering in Africa 15-20 years ago who’d never lift a finger to engage with the low income or oppressed populations
      who live sometimes just a few miles from their homes.

    • @calliopejackalope1087 says:

      Completely agree! Imagine going to Africa to help the needy when there are homeless people all over the United states 👀 (going to Africa or wherever, can cost thousands of dollars, volunteering is free)

  • @lbstole says:

    I’ve been fortunate (aka extremely privileged) to have traveled extensively, and had the resources to volunteer abroad for two years after college graduation. I KNOW it’s not something everyone can do, or even wants to do. I don’t consider myself “better” because I’ve had the resources to travel pretty frequently outside the USA. However, I naturally find myself drawn to other people who enjoy traveling and sharing about their experiences.

  • @andrearace1168 says:

    Preach! If you want to be cultured – Go work minimum wage. I’ve met people from around the world, Hungary, Iran, Morocco, Syria, Puerto Rico, and more. And not just for a short vacation. I got to know these people. Learn about them and their cultures. I doubt the person who spent their vacation in Amsterdam could tell me a single thing about Ramadan.

    • @Adardidnothingwrong says:

      Yeah I’ve worked minimum wage for 14 years and I also studied abroad on scholarship and I definitely preferred studying abroad

    • @mxmxmxnanana says:

      Why would you ask someone who went to Amsterdam about Ramadan and not about bicycles or tulips? I get what you are trying to say but not everyone has to be interested in every single culture on the planet. I have plenty of experience and knowledge of Latin America but have never and will never be interested in Asia. Doesn’t make me ignorant, just someone who knows what she is interested in and what she isn’t interested in. Maybe the guy who went to Amsterdam really just fcking like Stroopwaffels.

  • @kelseycoca says:

    absolutely!
    I went to Cancún with a group and they didn’t even want to leave the resort but I was so much happier when we got to Tulum and I could actually speak some Spanish lol
    this was my first international trip but it amazed me that people were just like there and not interested in the culture or history of Mexico, just the drinks

    • @josephcarland says:

      The crazier part is that they price thing in US dolars in some of those places.

    • @kelseycoca says:

      @josephcarland  that’s true, didn’t have to worry much about the exchange rate until I got out of the resort and then I was like OH YEAH, this is Mexico haha

    • @rba4377 says:

      I have relatives that travel to “experience” culture for decades and at age 50 I swear they are the same people as at age 28. I think its based on the individual

  • @Cowboydjrobot says:

    I red a book about trails and it was excellent but one thing really stood out to me and that was one guy they interviewed who is a Native American and he knew everything about his town and the land. He knew such rich lore and history and geography and weather and everything. And it made me realize that there is so much value in digging into a single place. Life is not a book. Life is a library and to travel is to read the dust cover of several books. And to stay in one place and foster community is to intently study one or two of those books from cover to cover

    • @TomyPesantes says:

      There’s merit to both, I think of it as a bell curve because knowing such rich lore of the land you live on gives the most insight you can on life since life is interconnected but so can traveling the world authentically by visiting local spots and enriching yourself in local culture since it shows interconnectedness of our world as well. It’s a beautiful thing to be able to do either as a goal

    • @carynsire3578 says:

      Beautiful and so true.

    • @shanemoriarty5301 says:

      So cool! What’s the name of the book if you don’t mind sharing?

    • @xeniaboutchard6496 says:

      Great analogy, there are many ways to grow, develop, make memories and it’s a matter of mindset 👍 Think of a hobby indoor gardener: are they accomplished if they have 200+ plants or are 30 enough? Do you need to travel all countries in the world until it all blends together or is it enough to be selective and not hinge your happiness on having it all? Do you want to experience all novelty by & for yourself or would you rather experience community and share with others? Life can be so rich and exciting, there are ways to push yourself and be part of something bigger, it doesn’t have to be travel alone.

    • @catherinesanchez1185 says:

      Brilliant way to put it . Spending a week in India doesn’t mean you know India

  • @adrivoid5376 says:

    And in my dual citizen perspective, its important to note, while Europeans travel more *within Europe* the percentage that travel to another continent is about the same percentage of Americans who do so. While many Americans do travel, more than the stereotypes suggest, but often to fewer countries and most likely to Canada or Mexico

    • @seun0203 says:

      But Europe is more culturally diverse as there are various countries, customs and languages

    • @elihan9 says:

      Yep. Traveling across Europe is the equivalent to taking a road trip across America.

    • @adrivoid5376 says:

      @@seun0203Yes, but if we are talking class and financial difficulties in traveling- for many Europeans its as easy as taking a 3 hr train or driving 30 minutes to be in another country. Some people can afford very easily to travel over weekends and through holidays. For others, like my own family in Italy, traveling is still rather expensive and prohibitive (especially if you have a family to support and live on the working class Italian salary), even within EU.

  • @gurgleblurgle7345 says:

    It’s also ablist. I can’t travel any more because of a chronic condition worsening.

    • @TravisMcMurray says:

      Absolutely! Thank you for pointing that out!

    • @umbrac6148 says:

      It’s not ableist if not applied to you specifically lol. For example, I think some movies are cool and am likely to find people who have watched/enjoyed the same movies cool on the surface level.

      It’s not ableist just because some people are blind. It’s just a reality of their situation that they can’t physically watch movies. It’s also not ableist to want an active partner you can hike with. Not everything or everyone is going to be made for you.

    • @gurgleblurgle7345 says:

      @umbrac6148  … That’s not even what was being talked about. What’s ablist is thinking that someone is uncultured because they don’t travel. Of course people enjoying movies isn’t ablist. People implying that those who watch movies are better in some way (say, by being more cultured) is ablist.

  • @mebemea says:

    I could cry at how well said this is. Grew up seeing it and hearing it, feeling guilty about not being able to and checking myself for envying this kind of lifestyle just because I want to come off better than others somehow. I’m simply just grateful to be alive and healthy at this point of my life.

  • @1dontknow4321 says:

    But when you travel abroad, you see how much better other countries are living. That, “this is the bad place.” We could be so much better. You don’t have to travel, just educating yourself to other parts of the world can enrich your life. So many cultures, religions, food, etc. You can have diversity food night and cook a dish from across the globe.

    • @umbrac6148 says:

      Most definitely. But it’s definitely easiest to see by traveling. The sad truth is that travel is deeply enriching and people who can’t afford it will just not be enriched in this way. It’s not classist to say as much.

    • @Pomagranite167 says:

      Travelling alone will not enrich you. If you bounce from resort to resort, i can guarantee, you are learning nothing. People who live like nomads though and just scrape and make money where they are are a different breed. Not the people we are talking about.

      And even in your home country, you CAN get that experience. It’s called befriending people different from you. You can’t tell me you learn NOTHING from having a dinner with russian people or going to a hispanic party or attending an indian wedding. Should you befriend people for that sole purpose? No. Is that a nefeficial conswuence of perhaps befriending and showing love to an immigrant? Sure is.

    • @Miab0711 says:

      ​@@umbrac6148 I agree that there is nothing like actually traveling to a place for enrichment. But at the same time many people travel without really learning much of anything.

      It’s the people who are interested in studying other cultures while at home that are likely to get the most out of the experience when they do travel.

      If I had to rank it:
      1) Traveling deliberately and intelligently. Planning your trip in a way that develops you.
      2) Studying different cultures and places from home.

      and waaay further down:
      maybe at 10) or 25) or 50) Traveling so you can post pictures of yourself at all the popular instagram spots, like collecting baseball cards but all of them star your face.

      Travel is enriching, but unfortunately many people don’t have what it takes to be enriched by it.

  • @POOOOOOOO416 says:

    So I went to a spiritual retreat once, and because I hadn’t travelled a group of people decided that I was ‘spiritually unevolved’ and wouldn’t talk to me. I have a condition that makes travel very difficult. But I absorb other cultures through people I meet, and through documentaries YouTube etc. I think being cultured is a result of being curious, not a result of how many plane tickets you’ve booked

  • @robertspadaro4329 says:

    OMG THANK YOU!!! I’m so sick of people using travel like it’s a social currency.

  • @mayafarrell6223 says:

    Reminds me of how I read somewhere that those who travel multiple times a year are less likely to have various health problems and I was just like “yeah it’s almost like the people who can afford to travel several times a year are more likely to be able to afford decent healthcare”

    • @quiannamortimer says:

      And organic food, which just means real food

    • @Pomagranite167 says:

      Lol all of it, they can afford better sleep, not to stress, to outsource literally VERY job and thought, better healthcare, better food, time off multiple times a year.

    • @gillagroupie says:

      It reminds me of the connection people make to playing tennis and having better health outcomes. A lot of that relationship is based on class and income.

    • @EmVeeBeen says:

      Oh god yes and that reminds me also of that article about ppl spending time with horses have less stress and/or live longer.
      I went, DUH, they’re prolly rich to begin with so they’re less stress and could afford healthcare so they tend to live longer!

    • @robinsmith8817 says:

      Or just that people in poor health or with disabilities are less likely to be able to travel comfortably.

  • @gabystringer2056 says:

    I like this take, and also passionately believe that travel CAN be transformative, and support moral development and perspective taking- taking the opportunity for work, study, leisure opportunities in which you engage with another culture, language and history for a prolonged enough time to challenge your prejudices and stereotypes you hold (whether its going from red state to blue, rural to urban, building strong relationships in migrant communities or whether it happens internationally) .

  • @ginawebb9938 says:

    Living in NZ i haven’t even had the money to travel internationally from here and have always felt less than.
    Thank you for seeing us

  • @PandorasExecutioner says:

    chelsea, i need an entire video de-influencing travel itself. most videos are deinfluencing certain destinations or travel supplies. im enjoying the discussion in these comments so far. i picked up this goal of traveling once per year. and i DO learn the language and try to explore local culture. i don’t do resorts. i have enjoyed contextualizing myself within the world, and seeing my own nation through fresh eyes. but yea, i could unpack this more and how it impacts society the way we treat this as something one “Must Do.” we can stay fulfilled and not suffer from FOMO even if we can never travel.

  • @ElizabethHanchett says:

    As a frequent traveler myself, your point is spot on.

    I travel because I can, not because it makes me a better person. I’m not a better person for traveling a lot, just someone with a good amount of disposable income and a powerful passport.

    I also want to point out that visiting another country on vacation or living there on a US salary is way different than living there on a local salary.

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