Handle Sexual Harassment When Traveling Abroad

Handle Sexual Harassment When Traveling Abroad


If you are a woman traveling alone or with a small group of other women, there may be times when you feel threatened or annoyed by persistent male interest.

1. Do your research ahead of time to know what to expect as a foreign woman traveling in the country you will be visiting. Your research should include appropriate clothing for women, culturally appropriate behavior between men and women, and places women may be restricted from entering.
2. Study interactions between local men and women for appropriate nonverbal ways for interacting: Do men and women who are strangers make eye contact when speaking? Are outsiders treated differently than friends or acquaintances? How far apart do women and men sit or stand from one another when conversing?
3. Watch how local women avoid advances from men and follow their cues. If shooing a man away or turning abruptly away appears to shame and dissuade a pursuer, be prepared to use these gestures yourself.
4. Be assertive when saying, "No," to unwanted advances, making certain that everything in gesture and demeanor indicates "No": speak loudly so that others will hear you; turn away or cross your arms firmly in front of you; be prepared to leave the venue or join others for protection.
5. Look to nearby women for help, especially older women who may feel protective of you. A specific appeal to a woman, such as a shopkeeper, will likely be more effective at shooing away unwanted solicitors than a general appeal to a crowd of women.
6. Familiarize yourself with how to find local police, proprietors of stores or conductors on trains, and appeal to such authority figures for help if harassment is persistent.

Protect Yourself if You're a Woman Traveling Alone

Protect Yourself if You're a Woman Traveling Alone


More women are now choosing to travel solo than ever before. It's a great way to see the world, but here are a few safety precautions to consider as you plan your dream vacation.

• Leave your jewelry and other valuables at home. Never travel with expensive or heirloom objects that may make you a target for pickpockets.
• Be aware of the people around you all the time, and follow your instincts. If something doesn't feel right, trust yourself.
• Stay in well-populated, well-lit areas. Don't take shortcuts down alleys, and don't walk alone at night.
• Talk to the locals about safety. Ask them which areas they avoid and which areas become dangerous after dark.
• Always wear your purse across your body rather than dangling it from your shoulder. Or better yet, leave the purse at home and find another way to carry the things you really need.
• Be extra careful at night. Try not to go out without a group of people, and make sure you have a plan to get home safely if you will be returning late. Also, avoid wearing extremely revealing clothes, or bring a sweater or coat to cover you up on your way back to your hotel from a club or restaurant. The more vulnerable you look, the more vulnerable you are.
• Bring a lightweight scarf with you. It's a great, inconspicuous way to keep your stuff close to you. Just tie it around your purse strap, and then loop it through a belt loop on your clothing.
• Avoid discussing your travel plans in detail with people you meet along the way.
• Call home at predetermined intervals so that relatives and friends can be sure you are OK and can call the necessary authorities if you don't call on the appointed day.

Tips & Warnings

• Bring a couple of extra passport photos with you; this makes it easier to replace important documents if they do get lost or stolen.
• Bring a package of safety or diaper pins with you, and then pin the pockets of your garments closed, with your valuables inside. Just make sure you can access what you need without having to undress completely.
• Buy something at a local grocery store, and carry some of your valuables in the plastic bag with the store logo. This is a great way to disguise your camera as a bag of cheese and carrots!
• Even people who seem nonthreatening can be thieves or scam artists.
• Think twice before listening to sob stories or getting into conversations, especially in airports and train stations. Some scam artists hang out in locker areas, telling people that their bags have been stolen and that they need money or food; others wait to see which locker you use, with the intention of breaking into it later.

Things You'll Need:

• Fake Wedding Ring
• Money Belts
• Silk Scarf
• Whistles
• Padlocks
• Telephone Calling Cards