BEING A WOMAN ABROAD..

Here is some advice for our female travelers.

• Obviously everything we have said thus far applies to all students regardless of sex, and we urge women to heed the admonitions already given about public transportation, night travel, making friends, keeping one's home secure, and so forth. At the same time there are situations in which women, more than men, need to be especially on their guard, and it would be a mistake to ignore or deny this sad fact out of a feeling of support for sexual equality and female empowerment. The problem of unwanted attention from a stranger can be especially vexing. Do not feel--we are speaking mainly to women now--that you must remain courteous and pleasant in the face of pests. It may be necessary to be firm, even rude in turning away an unwelcome advance. You may indeed have to "make a scene" to get your point across. If necessary, seek the help of the police. Sexual aggressiveness can take crude forms. If you are confronted by an exhibitionist, the best response is to ignore the offender and leave the scene. Again, summon a police officer if you feel threatened. The best way to avoid trouble in the first place is to walk purposefully and with a body language that says "bug off!" Although this can be difficult for someone from a country where a ready smile has almost the status of Mom's apple pie, you will likely find it necessary, for your own protection and independence of movement, to cultivate a defensive surliness as you walk the streets of your host city. Perhaps we are making our point by overstating the situation, but this advice is based upon talks with many women travelers through the years.