With the goal of achieving a better quality of life, escaping a polarized political climate, and finding a safer place to live, more and more American women are choosing to move to Europe. This is the case of Dee Segler, who moved to the Netherlands just before the 2024 presidential elections. Thanks to platforms like She Hit Refresh, founded by Cepee Tabibian, women over 30 are able to form communities and find the necessary resources to access information about visa processes, such as the Friendship Treaty between the United States and the Netherlands.
This migratory movement has little to do with seeking adventure and is more a consequence of critical legislative changes in the U.S., such as the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and the search for safer and more tolerant social environments.
Dee Segler’s experience
There were several reasons that prompted Dee Segler to leave Seattle and move to Europe, but the origin of the idea has to do with a promise she made to herself when she was 18 after a school trip to Europe: “I made a promise to myself at 18 years old: I was going to live abroad. But life just kind of happened. I went to school, got married, and had kids,” she told USA TODAY. At 50, divorced and with independent children, Segler was laid off from her job in the tech sector, which became a turning point.
After going back to school, and after some time working in a junior role, experiencing the challenges of the cost of living in Seattle, she asked herself, “Do I really want to go back to corporate America?” Besides the career dilemma, in 2022, she experienced something that was decisive for her: the revocation of Roe v. Wade. For her, reproductive health is a vital matter: ‘They have to understand, I almost died from complications during pregnancy… this is personal to me,’ she told USA TODAY. Shortly after, following the rulings on Donald Trump’s immunity, Segler contacted Dutch immigration lawyers to begin her relocation under the Treaty of Friendship between the United States and the Netherlands.
“She Hit Refresh”
With some research, she found on Facebook a group called She Hit Refresh with more than 10,000 members, founded by Tabibian in 2017. Its goal was to gather information about moving abroad for middle-aged women. “I couldn’t find resources made for me… Would I lose my career? What if I had debts or a mortgage?” Tabibian says about her own doubts when moving to Spain at 35.
Security and values
The statistical data supporting the motivations for female migration to the United States could be described as alarming. The 2024 Global Peace Index ranks the United States 131st out of 162, while destinations such as Germany, Ireland, Portugal, and the Netherlands remain in the top 20. Gun violence is another factor, as in the United States it is 19 times higher than in France and 77 times higher than in Germany.
The political situation of the country is also crucial, as in cases like Cindy Sheahan, who moved to Sicily, “Another Trump term was non-negotiable for me”. According to Segler, moving has been one of the best decisions, “I am a woman in my early 50s who has tried to give her best every day for decades,” she states. “I am burned out in certain areas. I want to take care of myself”.
Frequently asked questions
What facilitated Dee Segler’s move to the Netherlands?
She used the U.S.-Netherlands Friendship Treaty (DAFT), which allows Americans to obtain residency as self-employed workers. She relied on the She Hit Refresh community to manage the process at age 50.
What safety data drives this female exodus?
The 2024 Global Peace Index ranks the U.S. at 131, while Europe dominates the top 20. Additionally, gun violence in the U.S. is up to 77 times higher than in countries like Germany, prompting the search for safer environments.
How does politics influence this migration decision?
Legal changes such as the overturning of Roe v. Wade and political polarization are key triggers. Many women seek refuge in systems with universal healthcare and legislation that protects their reproductive rights and personal values.