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Women Abroad

Introduction

Women going on study abroad programs outnumber men by about 2 to 1. Women are increasingly traveling alone for pleasure or work or research related reasons. Some orientation materials exist to address women's concerns and issues, but often we are on our own. One of the biggest problems seems to stem from the American woman's cultural bias that we are capable, independent and that it is our right to do anything that a man can do and go anywhere that a man can go. Unfortunately, this is not how it is in many other countries. Even in Western Europe (a place that we tend to think very Americanized) attitudes vary tremendously, especially toward American women who are thought to be loose or easy. This opinion is created/reinforced by American television shows and films.

This material is not meant to scare women away from going abroad but rather to help them be knowledgeable, prepared and safe. Traveling alone provides insights into the foreign culture that cannot be gained when traveling with an American group or companion. It is a confidence builder and gives the traveler the freedom to plan what she really wants to do and see. It promotes language learning and creates opportunities to meet more people from the host country and other travelers. Women should have and do have, the opportunity to experience this. In fact in some cultures, being a woman may actually be to your advantage. A woman might have access to women's society and friendship, something denied to men in Islamic cultures for example.

Probably the most important thing that women can do to keep themselves safe is to inform themselves. Women should be aware of cultural differences, specifically that pertain to attitudes toward women (and American women) before they go. Read as much as you can and speak with women who have been there before if at all possible.

The U-M International Center provides many resources for doing just that. Our travel library includes several books geared toward women travelers. Some contain advice and some are first-person accounts. The Let's Go and Rough Guide series of guide books have sections under trip planning for women travelers. The library also contains a notebook of accounts written by U-M students who have traveled all over the world. Read these to find out what it was really like to be a woman in specific countries. Check out the scholarship list of financial opportunities for women only (mostly for graduate students). Many of our peer advisors are women who have just come back from working or studying abroad. Talk with them about their experiences.

Student Comments

Here is a sampling of some of the things that men (about women) and women have written in our travel comments over the past two years. Let me preface this by saying that some of these comments should be taken with a grain of salt. That is, someone who said she never had any problems at all was probably extremely lucky or didn't consider cat-calling to be a problem, and someone who says never travel alone either had really bad luck or had a low threshold for harassment. I would like to stress that there is a difference between being in actual physical danger and being annoyed/frustrated/angry.

Europe

  • Most women definitely found that being in Southern Europe was much more difficult than Northern Europe. In Mediterranean countries there tends to be lots of cat-calling that sometimes results in being followed. Some men will even go so far as to touch you. More respect seems to be shown in the North.
  • I'm glad I traveled alone.
  • I traveled alone and had no problems since Belfast is very safe with low rates of street crime.
  • I traveled alone for two weeks. It was great to be completely independent.
  • Don't be afraid to travel alone. I am a woman and I had no problems. I think that I met more people traveling alone.
  • Exercise caution.
  • Women alone are not safe from harassment. Pretend you don't hear. Pretend you are preoccupied.
  • Ignore cat-callers and always be aware of the people around you. Be confident.
  • I traveled alone for part of my trip through Germany. There were many other women I met along the way who were also traveling alone. It was great to team up for a day or two. Insight: Men all over the world can be dirty or dangerous. Be careful but don't take it personally.
  • Don't travel alone. European men are very touchy and aggressive.
  • Women should be wary but not paranoid. Act inconspicuous to be hassled less. I wouldn't recommend women traveling alone in Morocco or Turkey.
  • I'm very proud to say that I traveled alone. I only had one negative experience where a drunken Englishman got touchy-feely on a train. Advice: Be assertive.
  • Be careful - Italian men are horrible - they touch and harass you.
  • Don't make eye contact with obnoxious men on the street. I never really felt threatened in Italy but it only invites rudeness and nasty remarks.
  • In Italy I recommend not to take night trains and not to travel alone.
  • Dress conservatively and never sit in empty areas (empty train cars, etc.).
  • Women if possible should travel with a male companion.
  • Never ask men for directions especially in Italy.
  • Don't travel alone in Southern Europe.
  • Be firm when being followed and do not react to cat-calling. Walk away when approached by strange men. Never walk alone at night. Carry MACE. (Note: this is illegal in some European countries).
  • In Rome I walked out of the train station alone and 10 men started whistling at me, calling me names, following me. I stayed there 1 day and then flew home.

Latin America

  • Cat-calling seems to be the most common problem in Latin America.
  • No problem traveling alone in Guatemala.
  • I traveled alone in Mexico and felt very comfortable doing so.
  • Unfortunately Central America is not a safe place for women who are not accompanied by males, even in groups. Be cautious and avoid walking alone. Never walk alone at night.
  • Do not go out alone at night in Brazil.
  • Women should be prepared for comments/whistles from Latin American men.
  • Expect bold propositions in Belize. Dress more conservatively.

Australia

  • Australia seems relatively safe and not a bad place for women to hitchhike.
  • Don't go into a bar as an unescorted female, this is the man's domain and you will get strange looks.

Asia

  • Problems vary greatly from country to country so inform yourself before you go. In Malaysia you might have your breast grabbed but in China most women are shown respect.
  • In general, China is safe for women. You do get stared at a lot though.
  • For women: Just do it. Be smart and keep you eyes open. (Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam)
  • Southeast Asia really was quite safe. Women need to prepare (emotionally) for being in Muslim societies and realize that any skin you expose will be reacted to like a beacon of light.
  • Women in India should realize that it is not safe to travel or go around the city alone, especially if they look non-Indian. Never wear shorts.
  • Women (blondes) should be careful in South Korea as they are often grabbed if alone.

Africa

  • North Africa seems to be more dangerous and many women warn against being in Morocco or Tunisia alone whereas in Sub-Sahara Africa the problem is perhaps more one of theft.
  • I would not discourage solo travelers if they are relatively self-reliant.
  • I have lived, worked, conducted research and traveled in North, Central and East Africa with few problems. Dress conservatively - no revealing clothing (short, tight clothing). Observe the norms of women in that culture. Don't look lost in the street. Go inside a shop/store to ask for directions. In East and Central Africa, I never felt physically threatened, but did have to be careful of thieves. People assume that you are rich (and you are in comparison!) and won't miss a few dollars, a camera etc.
  • Being in Egypt for two months was a big challenge and frustrating. There is a lot of harassment on the streets, stares, whistles, calls. I put no limitations on myself. I went to Alexandria alone and walked alone on the streets at night. Safer there than here. You should be confident, on guard at all times. Be assertive. Some men don't take you seriously.

Safety Tips

  • The most obvious of course is to be aware and alert. Know your surroundings if at all possible. Have a map. When possible ask another woman for directions. Act like you know where you are going even when you don't. Project a confident attitude.
  • Know how the phones work in whatever country you are in and be prepared to use them. That is, if you need a phone card, buy one.
  • Have some mad money for a more expensive hotel, an upgrade to first-class on a train or a taxi to get you out of a bad area of town for example.
  • Dress conservatively. Know what standard dress for women is and dress accordingly. Don't wear shorts unless the local women do. American women often think that they should be able to dress anyway they want to and therefore do. If you want to blend in(and avoid making yourself an obvious target for harassment), don't.

Scholarships

The U-M International Center has comprehensive resources on scholarships for education-abroad available from U-M and external organizations. Refer to the following pages:

Resources

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) 800.326.AAUW. Membership benefits include: cheaper group insurance rates, publications, and scholarship eligibility. You can apply at your local branch and become a member at both the state and national level.

Web Sites

American Association of University Women

U.S. Department of State's Tips for Women Traveling Abroad Alone. Advice from the branch of the U.S. government responsible for the welfare of U.S. citizens abroad.

Transitions Abroad: Women Travel Abroad. A great collection of first-hand articles, web sites and agencies by this award-winning, respected travel magazine.

Journeywoman. An online travel resource just for women.

Bibliography

Books marked with an asterisk (*) are available for use at the International Center.

*Albright, Sandra; Chu, Alice; Austin, Lori. Moving and Living Abroad: A Complete Handbook for Families. (New York: Hippocrene Books, 1993).

*Ames, Helen Wattley. Spain is Different. (Yarmouth, ME: Intercultural Press, Inc., 1992). Chapter 3.

*Condon, John C. Good Neighbors: Communicating With the Mexicans. (Yarmouth, ME: Intercultural Press, Inc., 1985). Chapters 4-5.

*Davies, Miranda and Jansz, Natania, editors. More Women Travel: Adventures and Advice From More Than 60 Countries (The Rough Guides Series). London: Rough Guides Ltd., 1995).

*Davies, Miranda, et. al., editors. Half the Earth: Women's Experiences of Travel Worldwide (The Rough Guides Series). (New York: Routledge, 1986).

*Ferrari, Marianne, editor. International Places of Interest to Women 1991. (Phoenix, AZ: Ferrari Publications, Inc., 1990).

Frederick, Bonnie and McLeod, Susan H., editors. Women and the Journey: The Female Travel Experience. (Pullman, WA: Washington State University Press, 1993).

Gluck, Sherna Berger. An American Feminist in Palestine: The Intifada Years. (Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1994).

*Hutchinson, William R.; Poznanski, Cynthia A.; Todt-Stockman, Laura. Living in Colombia: A Guide for Foreigners. (Yarmouth, ME: Intercultural Press, Inc., 1987). Chapters 3, 6-7.

*Janssen, Gretchen. Women on the Move: A Christian Perspective on Cross Cultural Adaptation. (Yarmouth, ME: Intercultural Press, Inc., 1989).

Jedamski, Doris. Images, Self-Images and the Perception of the Other: Women Travellers in the Malay Archipelago. (Hull, England: University of Hull, Centre for Southeast Asian Studies, 1995).

*Jensen, Lois, editor. The Long Haul: Special Issue for the Fourth World Conference on Women. Choices: The Human Development Magazine. (New York: Division of Public Affairs, United Nations Development Programme, August 1995).

*Ladd, Jennifer. Subject: India: A Semester Abroad. (Yarmouth, ME: Intercultural Press, Inc., 1992).

McKay, Virginia L. Moving Abroad: A Guide to International Living. (Wilmington, DE: VLM Enterprises, 1982). pp. 7-11, 108-113, 131-140, 167-185.

Melchett, Sonia. Passionate Quests: Five Modern Women Travellers. (London: Heinemann, 1991).

Morris, Mary. Maiden Voyages: Writings of Women Travellers. (New York: Vintage Books, 1993).

*Nydell, Margaret K. Understanding Arabs: A Guide for Westerners. (Yarmouth, ME: Intercultural Press, Inc., 1987). Chapters 5-8.

Robinson, Jane, editor. Unsuitable for Ladies: An Anthology of Women Travellers. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1994).

Robinson, Jane. Wayward Women: A Guide to Women Travellers. (New York: Oxford University Press, 1990).

*Rossman, Marlene L. The International Businesswoman of the 1990s: A Guide to Success in the Global Marketplace. (New York: Praeger, 1990).

*Twombly, Susan B. Piropos and Friendships: Gender and Culture Clash in Study Abroad.

Frontiers: The Interdisclipinary Journal of Study Abroad. Volume 1. Fall 1995. pp. 1-27.

*Van Gelder, Lindsy and Brandt, Pamela Robin. Are You Two...Together?: A Gay and Lesbian Travel Guide to Europe. (New York: Random House, 1991).

*Weinthal, Erika and Luong, Pauline Jones. New Opportunities, New Risks: An Open Letter to Women Conducting Research in Central Asia. News in Brief. Volume 7, Number 1. January/February 1996.

*Wheeler, Maureen. Travel With Children: A Travel Survival Kit. (Hawthorn, Australia, 1990).

*White, Merran. Going Solo: A Guide for Women Traveling Alone. (Victoria, Australia: Greenhouse, 1989).

Zepatos, Thalia. A Journey of One's Own: Uncommon Advice for the Independent Woman Traveler. (Portland, OR.: The Eighth Mountain Press).

Zepatos, Thalia. Adventures in Good Company: The Complete Guide to Women's Tours and Outdoor Trips. (Portland, OR.: The Eighth Mountain Press, 1994).

Last reviewed: 2/08

By Susan Gass
LS&A Academic Advisor