(from Transitions Abroad International Resource Guide No. 43)

American women are taught to be adventuresome, independent, and eager to meet people.  We are used to being active, talking with people we don't know, making friends quickly, going out at night.  We want to make the most of our time overseas and become involved in a variety of activities.  Yet, in many parts of the world the role of women is to stay at home.  Friends are often made through family ties, not at school or in a bar at night.  And there are often strong differences between how women are expected to act in public and in private.  Dress, behavior, activity, eye contact and topics of conversation are shaped by unspoken cultural norms.  And then, traveling alone or in groups, come American women, frequenting bars and clubs, making eye contact with men they don't know.  The non-verbal messages we send may surprise us.  Media images of Madonna and the stars of TV shows like Baywatch and Melrose Place have created powerful, lingering stereotypes of American women.  And as we jog in the streets of Cairo, wear shorts in Turkey, and smile at men we don't know in Mexico, we may be unintentionally reinforcing these stereotypes.

Respect the Culture you are Visiting

Despite your personal beliefs about what women should have the right to do around the world, you need to reach a balance between maintaining your identity and respecting the culture you are visiting.  You might want to slow down and consider what could be gained by packing away your jeans and wearing a sari in India, staying home with the family instead of going to a club in Tokyo, or taking time to talk with the grandfather selling flowers in the local market.  While the most obvious things you take with you abroad are your nationality and your gender, one of the best tools you can carry is cultural sensitivity and awareness.  With this type of knowledge backing you up, you may be able to break some of the stereotypes as you travel.  Here are a few tips for gaining cultural sensitivity as a woman traveling abroad:

• Research the country.  Find out what the dress is for women, which locations and situations are best for women to avoid, what messages non-verbal communication such as eye contact send, etc.  Start gathering this information by talking to women who are either from that part of the world or have traveled there.
• Get to know the women of the country.  Begin by reading books by and about women from that area of the world (see resources listed).  Contact local women's organizations and families.  While men and male-dominated activities are often more visible, take the time to reach out to women.  Involve yourself in women's work, play with children, stay at home in your host family, and talk with your host "mother."
• Observe.  You can learn a lot about roles, attitudes, and customs by watching.  How do women carry themselves in public?  What is the role of women in the host culture?  What is the reputation of foreign women?
• Honor the customs.  You travel to other countries to learn, so you need to make the effort it takes to show respect.  That might mean packing away your blue jeans and T-shirts and putting on a sari or long skirt.
• Be aware of cultural differences.  If you have lived in one country for a year and feel comfortable with male/female relationships, don't assume that your expectations will hold true in other countries.  As you cross borders, accept the challenge of learning about each culture you encounter.
• Learn the language.  Whether you are in a new country for a few days or a year, you will make a stronger connection with people by at least trying to communicate with them in their own language.
• Avoid generalizations.  You might have a bad experience with one man from a country, but that doesn't mean all men from that country are bad.  Don't let one rotten apple spoil the barrel!  Try to focus on what you can learn about yourself and your own culture from each experience.
• Listen to and trust your instincts.  While you need to make efforts to adapt to a new culture, you also need to pay attention to what feels comfortable to you.  When you are in a situation that makes you feel uncomfortable, you need to trust your instincts and leave.
• Express yourself and the difficulties you experience.  This might be in a journal or letter; we all need an outlet for our feelings.
• Do not confront men who are obviously used to being in charge.    This is especially true in Central and South American cultures.  Avoid trying to act just as "macho," as the offender and try to walk away from the situation.

Surviving Sexual Harassment Abroad

Many women travelers experience some degree of sexual harassment, be it in verbal forms, gestures, pinches or other physical encounters.  This is not to say that such occurrences do not happen in the U.S., but that being a foreign traveler is often enough to mark a woman as an appealing target for such behavior.  The challenge for women travelers who are victims of harassment is in learning to cope with the problem and still maintain a positive cross-cultural experience.  It can be quite easy to condemn an entire culture based on a few unpleasant encounters.

Barbara Baker, a teacher of cross-cultural counseling at the School for International Training in Brattleboro, Vermont, says sexual harassment abroad may be particularly frustrating to American women because of their own ingrained cultural expectations.  "In American Culture emphasis is placed on individual rights, freedoms, and choices.  American women grow up with the expectation that they can make choices and be responsible for themselves."  Not all cultures share this concept of individualism.  A woman abroad is not necessarily viewed as an individual, but as a representative of a larger group.  Often these representations are associated with stereotypes, such as the "easy" or "loose" American woman looking for a good time.  Someone who has never really known an American woman before may rely on these stereotypes for definition.  "Stereotypes of American women as sex objects are influenced by a myriad of factors: movies, advertisements, popular culture.  Media is very powerful," Baker explains.  "It may be a shock [to an American woman] to be perceived as something different than what she is.  She becomes a representative of a mythical culture."  Maria Hope, a study abroad advisor at the University of Iowa, cautions students who are going abroad that certain stereotypes will precede them.  "American women have a reputation for getting involved in sexual relationships.  Physical intimacy is more overtly accepted in North American culture, so an [American] female student is seen as 'easy prey.'"

Stereotyping is not the only factor working against women in foreign environments.  According to Baker, a woman entering a new society is sometimes viewed as a non-member who does not fit the norms of how women behave in that culture, and thus men may act differently toward her.  "It can be an opportunity for men to experiment with behaviors and push limits," she said.

A woman has options when confronted with an atmosphere of harassment and can take steps to avoid or minimize such encounters.  Baker advises women to be aware of the potential for harassment when entering a foreign place.  "Expect conflicts and misunderstandings," she said.  "Learn all you can about the culture you are visiting and have an awareness of how women are perceived within that culture."  Hope says she advises students to be prepared to receive attention based on their appearance when abroad.  Students should be aware that they are seen differently in another culture.  Some travelers suggest adjusting certain behaviors, body language, and dress to blend into the host culture.  This does not mean giving up personal beliefs and habits or denying one's own cultural heritage, but assimilating some attitudes of the new culture can bring a sense of "belonging" and confidence.

Many women strongly advise having a constant awareness of their surroundings when traveling.  Being alert, looking confident, traveling with a companion, avoiding direct eye contact with strangers, and taking no unnecessary risks such as hitchhiking or walking alone at night are common pieces of advice in avoiding unwanted encounters.

Ignoring harassment and remaining aloof carries many women through some situations, but assertive behavior is called for at times.  A firm "No" or loud "Leave me alone" in any language is often enough to deter a potential harasser.  Don't be afraid to make a scene and attract attention if needed.

Every woman must decide for herself what responses she is comfortable with and what methods of coping work best for her.  Not all experiences are pleasant ones, but adapting to and living in a different culture can be one of the most enriching and empowering experiences of a lifetime.

Return to regular view	Text-only	Updated: 3/3/06