How Do You 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. 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. 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? 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. Be assertive when saying, “No,” to unwanted advance
