Safety on the Road
When you’re a female backpacker people are always asking, “Well, aren’t you scared of what could happen?” And I suppose if I actually concentrated my energies on thinking about what could happen, then sure I’d be scared. But if I thought that much about it I probably wouldn’t go anywhere.
The mix you need to strive for is part blind courage, part common sense and part preparation. When women today have to be concerned about sexual and verbal harassment or physical assault, unwanted touching, inappropriate comments, crude propositions, groping and even rape, the wide open road is a potentially scary place. But you don’t need to stay home in order to stay safe. We’ll show you how.
Avoiding Theft
Women are generally considered to be easier targets for theft than males and so we need to take extra precautions to staying safe.
Taking into account common sense you’ll want to avoid dark and deserted streets. Stay in well-lit, well-populated areas where you can yell for help if needed. That being said in overly-crowded areas you’ll need to keep your wits about you as thieves will use the general jostling as an opportunity to grab your stuff.
Always walk like you know exactly where you are and where you’re going.
Most anybody you ask will recommend that you use a money belt in order to avoid having your pockets picked. But because this is such a generally known garment, thieves will know about it and will be able to counter your safety measure. So that you aren’t left penniless should something happen, keep an emergency stash kept in your bra.
Finally, let go of the bag. If someone comes after you, just let your bag go, don’t try to hold onto it as you could be risking assault or worse. Most experts will tell you to let the bag go before shouting your head off for help.
Avoiding Unwanted Attention and Assault
When you’re young and on an adventure it’s not always clear who the bad guys are because you don’t want to instantly reject every handsome and charismatic foreign man you come across. That’s just silly. But you do need to be careful. I remember the first time I was in Paris, sitting on the grass by the Eifel Tower struggling my way through Le Monde. A seemingly nice, intelligent man approached me and we were having a nice chat until he tried to kiss me out of nowhere. Needless to say I bailed as fast as I could. It wasn’t a nice feeling.
Some tips for keeping yourself safe include the tried and true wedding ring approach. Especially in developing countries, a married woman is another mans property and off limits. You’ll therefore be able to enjoy a hassle-free holiday. Another obvious one is eye contact. No matter where you are in the world, prolonged eye-contact is an invitation to flirt. In some countries eye contact is a flat out invitation for more than a little flirtation. Talk to local women to understand what is and isn’t acceptable in their culture.
Next you’ll want to learn a few key phrases from each foreign language you encounter. Beyond the politeness of Hello’s, Goodbyes, Please and Thank-yous you’ll want to add “Leave me alone,” “No” and “Help” to your vocabulary. If you get scared and can’t remember the right words just start screaming. The unwanted attention your would-be assaulter will get from those around you will be enough to see him bolt.
Should you be assaulted in any way, contact your local embassy as soon as possible. As it may not always pan out to visit the police, let your embassy know what happened and seek their assistance in righting this wrong. Victims of rape should go to their hotel or the local hospital for help immediately.
Safety for women is a concern at home and abroad. No matter where you are look and act confident. Be alert. Use common sense. Always walk like you know exactly where you are and where you’re going. These few tips should be enough to keep you safe and secure so that you can travel internationally, explore your dreams and have a great time doing it.
