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Abstract
The Institution of International Education (IIE, 2014) reports that only 6.1% of students traveling abroad are African American. The percentage provided by the IIE includes both African American men and women, so the number of Black women traveling abroad is significantly less. Therefore, despite research (Van hoof & Verbeeten, 2005; Dietz, 2018), that emphasizes the importance of international experiences, Black girls in high school are not benefiting from these experiences. College students who study abroad, have shared how international travel has benefitted them (Walker, Bukenya & Thomas, 2011; Varela, 2017; “The World for Women”, 2019; Fox, 2019). However, Black college women are not included in the literature on college students studying abroad. Black college women are excluded from the benefits that those college students share; including, the ways that international travel has helped them matriculate through college (Penn & Tanner, 2009; Desoff, 2006). Despite being excluded from the literature highlighting the benefits of international travel and how those experiences help students matriculate from college, Black women are continuing to rise in levels of success in education (Rovai, Gallien & Wighting, 2005; Wrinkle-Wagner, 2015). Research regarding college success for Black women most commonly highlights the challenges and failures of Black men and women (Rovai, Gallien & Wighting, 2005; Wrinkle-Wagner, 2015), but this research will highlight the factors of success and the college experiences for Black women who have traveled internationally in high school. Students that graduate from college and obtain a high grade-point average have traditionally been the measurement of success (Wrinkle-Wagner, 2015). This research will explore other factors that contribute to the success of Black women in college. Previous research has shown that Black women have defined success as attaining tenure, garnering prestige, increased earnings, and enhancing self-satisfaction (Gregory, 1995; Tippeconnic-Fox, 2009; Edwards, Beverly, & Alexander-Snow, 2011). This phenomenological study will explore how women who have had international travel experiences in college define success and how international travel in high school influences the college experience for Black women using a Black Feminist Thought Framework (Collins, 2000).