Staying Safe When You Go Abroad
Information for Men and Women About Avoiding Sexually Harassing Situations in Another Country.
Harassment Issues
Cultural differences extend to misunderstandings about the meaning of body language. U.S. students may encounter people who do not understand that their familiar, easy going way with strangers is a gesture of friendship. A smile, a hairstyle, the way an individual carries him- or herself, eye contact, and the distance between people can have profoundly different interpretations from culture to culture.
Students may find that the problem of sexual harassment of women by local men sometimes occurs. In some countries the barrage of comments, hissing, whistling, chirping, leering stares, lecherous grins, and blatant sexual advances can just about destroy a woman’s enjoyment of the country. If the behavior escalates to physical touching and groping, it can become quite frightening.
In some other countries, constant harassment on the street is pleasantly missing. But women still need to be cautious of men making sexual advances when any opportunity arises, such as sitting or standing next to you on a bus, or catching you in a situation away from other people. Often the more conservative the local social and religious standards are, the more a female student’s very presence provokes this behavior in local men. Local women may also be scandalized by the presence of female students, not to mention their dress and behavior.
Students often find a completely different environment from what they are used to. Students need to deal with the situation as it exists since the cultural mores of entire populations do not change overnight. Female students may find that they need to wear clothing that is more modest than they are accustomed to, stay off the streets at night, or avoid contact with local men. It won't always be fun or easy, but there are a number of things students can do which can significantly reduce the problem.