July 14, 2022

Roe vs Wade Ruling: Is Court’s Decision Impacting International Students Motivations for Choosing Study Abroad?

T The US Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade has caused flutters in the political world and has impacted international students. According to a news report, international students avoid red-states owing to the court ruling, as they worry over healthcare and want control over their bodies.

According to The Chronicle for Higher Education, politics plays a crucial role in influencing students’ admission decisions. Educators also fear partisanship on campuses owing to issues on sensitive issues such as abortion.

…we can only hope that our society will find a way to move forward once again and extend this protection to all women in our country…

An international student from El Salvador told the media that an area’s political environment is something most people will look into before or after applying. She added that she has witnessed several people go for one school over the other based on how safe and supported they feel there.

Ben Waxman, CEO of Instead, says that the American political climate is increasing as a concern for international students. He added, “Ever since the 2016 election in the US in which Mr Trump ran and won, more international students consider whether an institution is a red or a blue state.”

While the number of students who correlate political environments with their choice of study destinations is limited, sources fear that with rulings such as Roe vs Wade, more students will consider safety and access to medical care before choosing their destination for international studies.

While some education institutions support the Dobbs side of the ruling, these are religious institutions. Secular education institutions have released statements supporting abortion access. One such is Boston University which has a population of over 10,000 international students.

Speaking to the media, BU President Robert Brown stated, “We have stumbled backwards almost half a century by denying women control over their bodies. We can only hope that our society will find a way to move forward once again and extend this protection to all women in our country.”

Posted in News and tagged News, US Supreme Court, Roe vs Wade, International Students, The Chronicle for Higher Education, Boston University
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