In 2022, as Americans were still processing the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Jen Barnett got a firsthand look at how promising her new business could be. Just days before the ruling, she launched a website for Americans thinking about moving abroad. As confusion and worry spread about what the decision meant for women in the US, Barnett saw her website traffic steadily increase. “We had this huge spike,” she said.
That was all she needed to co-found her company, Expatsi, which has since helped thousands of Americans looking to relocate. Women make up a key part of her customer base—about two-thirds of her clients. “If it weren’t for young women, this business wouldn’t exist,” she said.
Her experience hints at a growing gender gap among Americans. Last year, a Gallup poll found that 40% of American women aged 15 to 44 said they would move abroad permanently if they could. While the survey only included 1,000 people, Gallup noted that this was a striking change from earlier versions of the same poll. Since 2014, the number of women in the US who said they wanted to leave had quadrupled. For young men, however, the number stayed steady at around 19%, creating what Gallup called the widest gender divide ever recorded in any country they surveyed.
These findings come as Americans seem to be leaving the country in record numbers. From London to Lisbon, relocation companies report a surge in inquiries from Americans. In the first two months of last year, US applications for Irish passports hit their highest level in a decade. France saw a rise in long-stay visa requests from Americans, and in March, the number of Americans who had applied for British citizenship in the previous 12 months reached its highest since records began in 2004.
The Guardian spoke to five American women who had recently moved to Latin America and Europe, as well as one who was planning to move soon. While all had long dreamed of living abroad, they said fears about gun violence, the desire for a better work-life balance, and the instability of US politics pushed them to make the leap. Few were surprised that as many as 40% of American women were dreaming of doing the same.
“It has become harder and harder and more dangerous to even exist as a woman in the US,” said Emily Burt, 32, who moved to Ecuador with her husband and two young children earlier this year. “I think our generation, and even some Gen Z women, we’ve just become disillusioned with the story that was sold of American exceptionalism and being the best country in the world.”
While some women are still making progress in the US, Burt said it felt like things had moved backward overall. “The way women are spoken about—not by everyone and everywhere, of course, but some of the loudest voices of influence, without naming names—are very disrespectful,” she said. “And that trickles down to how regular people you interact with think they can speak about, speak to, and treat women.”
All of this was happening against the backdrop of social media, where women were getting an unprecedented look at what life could be like in other countries. “Why wouldn’t they dream big and want to go places where they can feel respected and safe, and where opportunities are open and endless?” Burt asked.
She and her husband decided to move after her oldest child started kindergarten in Texas. Suddenly, the exhaustion of balancing life and work was made worse by the stress of active shooter drills. “It was fairly often that we were getting threats, but then they were unfounded. But it doesn’t even matter if they were real or not.”“That anxiety is still there,” she said.
Others said the chaotic political climate in the U.S. played a role. “The politics were like fuel for the fire,” said Jenelle Jones, who left Tennessee last year in search of walkable cities, accessible public transport, and plenty of community spaces across the Atlantic.
[Image: Jenelle Jones at Teterboro airport, New Jersey, getting ready to head to Europe. Photo: Jenelle Jones]
“Everyone’s like, ‘It’s because of Trump, right?’ It’s yes and no, though it kind of just confirmed my decision,” said Jones, 39, who was renting an apartment near Tirana, Albania, after traveling through Europe in a camper van for a year. “The U.S. has always had built-in racism, classism, and propaganda – all that stuff. But it’s never been so in-your-face before.”
This led to the kind of tensions that convinced Courtney Schuyler, 43, and her wife that it was time to move, rather than waiting until retirement as they had originally planned. “Walking around the United States when you know you might not be as protected or might be judged more harshly or openly than years before – there’s always a level of stress on your shoulders when you’re part of a marginalized community,” Schuyler said.
With their three dogs in tow, they traded their lives in the Tampa Bay area for Madrid last year. “It’s almost like being able to take a deep breath again. So that feels good, but it’s also really sad because there are a lot of people we still love and care about in the United States, and those we can empathize with.”
All of the women were quick to point out that their new lives came with different challenges, from language barriers to being far from family and loved ones. “Being an American abroad is an endless cycle of trying to find ways to get a visa,” said Alexandra Blydenburgh, 27, who left the U.S. more than four years ago and has moved between various countries in Europe.
[Image: “Being an American abroad is an endless cycle of trying to find ways to get a visa,” said Alexandra Blydenburgh. Photo: Alexandra Blydenburgh]
“On social media, lots of people are like, ‘Everyone move abroad; it’s perfect.’ But I think it’s not necessarily for everyone. It is difficult,” she said, pointing to the often-lower salaries in Europe as one example.
For her, though, these were trade-offs she was willing to make. “A lot of people say, ‘Why move abroad? Why not try to work on or solve the issues in your home country?’ But in the U.S., I really feel like we’re in a place politically where that’s not really possible – in my lifetime, I don’t see the U.S. ever becoming a country with free healthcare, a focus on work-life balance, and six weeks of paid vacation.”
It’s the kind of shift Barnett had seen play out among those looking to go abroad. Before 2024, most of her clients cited adventure and personal growth as their reason for wanting to leave. Others said they were interested in lowering their cost of living.
But since Donald Trump was re-elected in November 2024, “the number one reason is politics,” she said. “That November 6th was the biggest day we’ve ever had on our side. It was the craziest. Our lives just changed dramatically overnight.”
Her company has since become part of a growing industry, from She Hit Refresh, an online community for women over 30 looking to move abroad, to Blaxit Global, which caters to Black Americans, and GTFO tours, which tends to attract critics of Trump and his administration.
Barnett saw little sign that the trend would reverse, especially as the political climate in the U.S. remained tense. “Listen, we would rather have democracy than the business,” said Barnett. “But we are goingWe’re going to seize the moment and make sure we can help as many Americans as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs based on the topic Why more US women are moving abroad Its because of Trump right Yes and no
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 Is the main reason American women are moving abroad because of Donald Trump
Not exactly While Trumps presidency and the current political climate are a major trigger for many its usually the final push The deeper reasons often include feeling unsafe frustrated with political division and seeking a better quality of life
2 What are the biggest reasons besides politics
Women often cite high costs of living lack of affordable healthcare gun violence a toxic work culture and a desire for a slower safer lifestyle in countries that value family and community more
3 What countries are American women moving to
Popular destinations include Mexico Portugal Spain Costa Rica Panama and France These countries often offer a lower cost of living good healthcare and a sense of safety
4 Is it easy for an American woman to just move abroad
Not always It requires research savings and paperwork You usually need a visa which can take months to get Its a big life change not a simple vacation
5 Do these women regret their decision
Many do not regret it They often report feeling less stressed safer and more financially free However they do miss family friends and American convenience
Advanced Questions
6 The article says Yes and no about Trump What does that actually mean
It means Trumps election and policies are a symptom of a deeper cultural shift Women are leaving because the US feels less stable and less aligned with their valuesTrump is the face of that feeling not the sole cause
7 How does the safety factor compare between the US and these destination countries
In many of these countries women report feeling safer walking alone at night because of lower rates of gun violence and a stronger community presence However they also face new risks like petty theft scammers and language barriers that require street smarts
