Just a day before the upcoming 2024 presidential election, Dee Segler boarded a plane to a nation she had never visited before.

Her move from the U.S. to the Netherlands—marking her first experience of living abroad—was somewhat coincidental. Primarily, it had been a long time in the making.

Now in her 50s, Segler has dreamed of residing abroad since her teenage years, inspired by a school trip to Europe with her French club. “I vowed at 18 that I would live overseas,” she shared with YSL News. But life unfolded differently—I went to college, got married, and raised children.”

Recently, she found herself in a position to finally pursue that dream. Having gone through a divorce and with her kids now independent, Segler was at a crossroads. A couple of years earlier, she faced a layoff from her tech job and returned to school, but she ended up in a junior position, struggling financially amid Seattle’s high living costs. “Do I truly want to return to corporate America?” she questioned.

While browsing Facebook, she found a group called She Hit Refresh, with over 10,000 members, designed to assist women over 30 in relocating to Europe. In June, Segler attended an online seminar about visa options for Europe presented by the group’s founder, Cepee Tabibian. She discovered how to effortlessly secure a two-year visa to the Netherlands as a self-employed American under the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty. That’s when she began contemplating the move more seriously.

Her decision solidified in the summer of 2022 when Roe v. Wade was overturned, stripping away the constitutional right to abortion. “It’s personal for me; I nearly lost my life due to pregnancy complications, and I have two loved ones who faced similar situations,” she explained. Soon after, the Supreme Court made a ruling concerning presidential immunity related to former President Donald Trump. “Should I remain here? What’s happening?” Segler wondered. Within days, she contacted Dutch immigration attorneys.

Segler represents a growing community of American women pursuing lifelong aspirations of living abroad or recognizing that their quality of life could improve—whether for social, health, safety, or political reasons. A survey by InterNations in 2021 revealed that nearly half of American expatriates working overseas were women.

With remote work becoming more common and nations offering digital nomad visas, migrating abroad has never been easier. She Hit Refresh highlights that, for women, relocating abroad brings distinct opportunities and challenges—emphasizing that it’s never too late to take that step.

‘A very different life point’

She Hit Refresh originated as a personal journey for Tabibian, who, at age 35, felt prepared to leave her tech job in 2015. Raised in Texas, she was eager to return to Spain—a place where she previously taught English while pursuing her master’s degree. However, resuming English teaching felt like “a step backward”, especially as she noticed that “everyone seemed to have everything under control.”

At that moment, relocating abroad felt restricted to young graduates or retirees. “I didn’t find adequate resources targeting women like me, who faced unique challenges when moving with life experience and responsibilities,” she noted. “Most information catered to university students taking gap years, which is an entirely different life stage. Would moving abroad mean jeopardizing my career? And what about debts, a mortgage, or children?”

After settling in Madrid, Tabibian connected with other female expatriates and learned about various visa pathways to remain in Spain. In 2017, in response to numerous inquiries from friends and peers about her relocation, she established the Facebook group.

The initiative resonated widely; within the first year, the group attracted 4,000 women from around the globe. She Hit Refresh subsequently launched a blog and organized its inaugural retreat in Morocco in 2019. The program now includes a comprehensive four-day live masterclass on Zoom, detailing the moving process to Europe, and helping participants create their personalized relocation plans, alongside a monthly membership designed to facilitate connections and provide support.

Women are seeking a better quality of life

While many women are eager for grand adventures, a substantial number are looking for countries that better reflect their personal values. This includes factors like universal healthcare available in all European nations or escaping the increasingly stressful political environment in the U.S. A recent survey by the American Psychological Association found that 77% of American adults perceive the future of the U.S. as their primary source of stress, followed by concerns about the economy and the 2024 presidential election.

“Given the rising divisiveness and political tension in the U.S. since 2016, I began to seek a better quality of life abroad,” shared Cindy Sheahan, who wandered the globe before settling in Portugal in 2022 and recently moved to Sicily, Italy, in October. “The prospect of another Trump presidency was simply unacceptable for me.” Sheahan’s backpacking journey coincided with the onset of Trump’s first term.

Sheahan’s decision to relocate was influenced by her recent divorce.

While searching for options to live in Europe permanently, Sheahan discovered She Hit Refresh. This year, she obtained Italian citizenship through her ancestry. In her 60s, she expressed feeling out of place in U.S. culture, finding the consumer mindset overwhelming and yearning for the affordable living and rich historical experiences in countries like Portugal and Italy.

Many women considering this move also prioritize safety. “Europe tends to present a political atmosphere that feels calmer, less polarizing, and generally more accepting,” remarked Tabibian. “This is especially crucial for our members who belong to intersectionally marginalized groups, including our LGBTQ+ members and our Black members, who often find more inclusive policies and environments in Europe than in the U.S.”

The 2024 Global Peace Index, which assesses safety based on violent crime, political instability, and homicide rates, listed the U.S. at 131st out of 162 countries. In contrast, countries such as Iceland, Denmark, Ireland, Portugal, Germany, and the Netherlands ranked among the top 20. Additionally, the U.S. experiences a firearm homicide rate significantly higher than European nations, being 19 times more than France and 77 times higher than Germany, as reported by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.

‘Making a Unique Choice’

Inspired by her own journey, Tabibian created the She Hit Refresh community as a supportive environment that addresses the different challenges women face when relocating to another country compared to men, including issues related to reproductive rights, safety, and societal expectations about settling down.

“There’s a societal expectation to settle down, start a family, and have everything figured out. For those of us seeking something different, it can feel isolating or even unconventional,” Tabibian reflected.

Through She Hit Refresh, she aims to show that with the appropriate resources and connections, women can successfully manage the complexities of starting anew. “When I made my move, I often faced questions that I felt were biased. If I were a man, people likely wouldn’t inquire about my safety or my potential to marry or have children,” Tabibian stated.

For Segler, the Netherlands didn’t even cross her mind until after the training session, but now she finds herself beginning an exciting new chapter in her life.

“I’m a woman in my early 50s who has dedicated herself every day for decades. I’ve reached a point of burnout in some areas and want to focus on my own well-being,” Segler shared.

(Note: This story has been updated to correct a typographical error.)