American college student Michaela Cross struggles to describe her time studying abroad in India. She says it was full of adventures and beauty but also relentless sexual harassment, groping and worse.
'Traveler's heaven, woman's hell' —
American college student Michaela Cross struggles to describe her time studying abroad in India. She says it was full of adventures and beauty but also relentless sexual harassment, groping and worse.
Courtesy Michaela Cross
Graffiti found on the streets of Pune, where the India study abroad program took place.
'Traveler's heaven, woman's hell' —
Graffiti found on the streets of Pune, where the India study abroad program took place.
Cross, a South Asian studies major at the University of Chicago, studied in India for three months in the fall of 2012.
'Traveler's heaven, woman's hell' —
Cross, a South Asian studies major at the University of Chicago, studied in India for three months in the fall of 2012.
Courtesy Michaela Cross
Cross shared this photo taken after the Ganesha Festival during her first night in Pune.
'Traveler's heaven, woman's hell' —
Cross shared this photo taken after the Ganesha Festival during her first night in Pune.
Courtesy Michaela Cross
Months after returning from India, Cross was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and said she took a mental leave of absence from school. She plans to return in the fall.
'Traveler's heaven, woman's hell' —
Months after returning from India, Cross was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and said she took a mental leave of absence from school. She plans to return in the fall.
Courtesy Michaela Cross