Personal safety is naturally a much bigger issue for women than men, although it is possible for even single woman to travel around India alone without being constantly harassed. You must be careful and security-conscious, of course, as is absolutely essential for a woman living or traveling alone anywhere. Safety when on an India tour is mainly a matter of the right demeanor (friendly and confident, yet aloof with men), modest behavior, modest dress and alertness. All four elements are essential, no matter who you are with. Respecting the culture will give you more protection from harassment than anything else can. Indian men are mostly brought up to respect women. However, there is a widespread belief in India that foreign women are readily available, as a result of which a lot of men think it's OK to treat foreign women shabbily, especially when their dress and demeanor are indecent by Indian standards. This attitude has a lot to do with the extremely modern way foreign women are portrayed in the media and movies. Most Indians know nothing else about us, so they assume foreign women are all as eager to jump into bed with anyone as many of the women featured prominently in the media appear to be. The situation is not helped by the immodest way many foreign women dress in India, as from the usual Indian point of view, only prostitutes dress that way. Ultimately, whether you like it or not, it is necessary for you as a woman to respect the standards of the Indian culture while they are on holiday packages in India if you don't want to suffer some degree of harassment or abuse. In order to be safe in India you have to work at it by dressing, speaking and behaving much more modestly than you would at home. The way you dress and behave has a significant influence on how successfully you interact with the locals and how they perceive you. If you dress like a prostitute according to Indian standards, you are sure to be treated like one—and that can be more than you bargained for even if you happen to have an especially casual attitude. Instead of taking responsibility for their own behavior, men who are lacking in self-control often put forth the specious and self-serving excuse that women are weak because they can't resist trying to seduce men. This is an absurd argument, yet it is accepted by much of Indian society. In any case, however unfair it is that men blame women for their own weaknesses, the reality is that men do get easily aroused, and they don't always manage to control their urges. Since in India there are few legitimate opportunities outside of marriage, men can often feel extreme pressure and frustration, so it's foolish to do anything that will inflame these feelings. Because the society is so conservative, Indian men are easily aroused by modes of dress and behaviors that are not considered even slightly provocative in the West. The trouble is that if a man gets aroused by the way you dress or act, it's not just his problem. In India the cultural norm is for women to keep a safe distance from men, especially strange men. Most Indian men wouldn't approach Indian women as casually as they may approach foreign women. Unfortunately, it's necessary to be on your guard with Indian men, no matter how nice they seem. Sometimes the most charming ones are the worst con artists. And of course there are always some who are out to get whatever they can. Men of this sort tend to view foreign women as a source of "safe" relationship (in the sense that foreign women can easily be kept away from family and friends who disapprove of a relationship outside marriage), money or a ticket to another country. Naturally, you have to use your judgment. But in general, try not to invite too much familiarity with Indian men, and refrain from saying exactly where you are staying unless you want them knocking on your door—or maybe climbing in the window. Do as the Indians do in order to avoid problems.
Women traveling in India need to be generally reserved with men, while at the same time radiating a feeling of universal friendliness. In fact, this attitude is a much better protection than being wary and tense, which can attract the wrong kind of attention because it makes you look weak and vulnerable. Smile at the world, but at the same time, be confidently aloof with respect to men. Pretend that you don't even notice them when you are passing them on the street, especially groups of young or rough-looking men. If you are alone, it's often best not to admit it. Be evasive and avoid answering overly personal questions. Try not to look men in the eye, even when you are talking to them, as this is seen as an invitation to greater intimacy. And don't flirt with a man unless you really want to end up in bed with him. Flirting is not taken as innocent fun in India as it is in some other countries. Avoid situations where you will be alone with an Indian man unless you want to get intimate with him. Your willingness to be alone with a man even in innocent situations may be interpreted as an open invitation for greater intimacy. If you behave intimately with your partner in public (hugging, kissing, or fondling each other), you are unwittingly sending a message to passersby that you are a woman who may be available to anyone, even if you really have no eyes for anyone else. So save your intimacies for when you are alone. Indians traditionally do not touch members of the opposite gender in public. Even holding hands in public is often too much. You see many foreign women running around India in unacceptable clothes. However, it's important to realize that dressing immodestly is not only insulting the culture but also inviting un-necessary harassment? Even if it seems like "everyone" is dressing like that (which is almost never the case if you look a little more carefully), this still applies. For the vast majority of Indians, the basic standards of modesty are compulsory. Revealing attire is typically seen as an open invitation India is not a country where flirting and wearing skimpy clothes is a normal part of the culture and of the way men and women relate to each other. Dressing and acting in a way that is designed to be as attractive to men as possible—which almost everything we see in the media tells us we are supposed to do—is unintentionally inviting trouble. If you dress or act in a provocative manner, don't be surprised if men grab you and fondle you or worse. You'll be regarded as fair game. Dressing provocatively and flirting indiscriminately is simply not safe. Why not save your best clothes for those intimate evenings alone with your partner? That will make them all the more special, anyway. Indian men generally prefer to see modestly dressed women, because such attire shows respect for the culture and doesn't put unnecessary strain on their self-control. Most Indians, including women, are embarrassed to see women wearing clothes that are considered indecent. To my surprise, on two or three occasions men have come up to me and actually thanked me for dressingmodestly! This was, as you might expect, in an area where many female tourists dress inappropriately by local standards—and some even by Western standards. If you are in a cosmopolitan environment like staying in luxury hotels in India where you have little direct contact with traditional Indians, you may feel that you can safely relax your dress code, but I would still advise you to dress fairly conservatively. In addition to the men you are interacting with socially, there are many men present in the background that one tends to not notice—servants, drivers, etc.—and they typically come from traditional backgrounds, even in the most rarified environment. Moreover, they are often from distant villages, so they only see their wives only once or twice a year. This cultural context makes a huge difference and you can't ignore it, even if your cosmopolitan friends and associates like to believe that they are completely disassociated from traditional Indian life. Many upper class Indians simply do not include Indians of lower classes (i.e., the vast majority) in their thinking. They go about their lives without really seeing them. This is only an illusion, and all illusions come to an end eventually. Simply being in a cosmopolitan environment will not necessarily protect you. Rape is the fastest growing violent crime in India, cutting across all classes and economic brackets. A case in point: a few years ago, after a gala event in Delhi, a Swiss diplomat was kidnapped in her own car from a crowded parking lot and raped by a man who was evidently a well-educated man from quite a high level of society. It was reported that the rapist told her that she should "respect our traditions." As is often the case with rapists, he blamed her for his lack of control, and he attempted to vindicate his evil actions on the grounds that he was teaching her a lesson. The knowledge that this kind of thinking is only a self-serving excuse that is intended to justify weakness and bad behavior is absolutely no consolation if you get assaulted. Although the law theoretically protects rape victims, in practice the courts tend to favor men, and conviction of rapists is relatively rare. This is because Indian society tends to put the blame on women. It's not only religious extremists who think that men shouldn't be held responsible for their own actions if women "tempt" them inthe slightest way, no matter if it's completely unintentional. Many other people hold the same view, including a surprising number of women from conservative families. Ironically, it's always the woman who is regarded as weak, and if a man has an affair or abducts a woman, often it's only the woman who is punished, while the man may go free with hardly a reprimand to continue his licentious behavior with other women. Because of the tendency to blame women, as well as the extreme pressure on them to remain silent, there are easily dozens of unreported rapes for every one that gets reported. All too often the police refuse to register a case even when a woman does get up the courage to report the crime. If a man's behavior is inappropriate by Indian standards—if he is making suggestive remarks or uninvited physical contact—then firmly tell him to stop. If he doesn't get the message, slap him. Don't wait until the situation is out of hand. If he doesn't respond appropriately, make a commotion and appeal to other people nearby for assistance. You can do quite a lot to protect yourself so that you don't make yourself an obvious target. You can't change the culture, so you will be safer and more comfortable if you simply adapt. Avoid taking taxis or public transportation alone at night. Also, be discriminating about where you go for evening entertainment and who you go with. Don't walk alone at night, and avoid walking alone in isolated or bad areas even in the daytime. If you must do so, then at least carry some pepper spray in a way that you can use it quickly if need be. Any time you are out walking alone, no matter where you are at any time, try to act confident, as if you know exactly where you are going, even if you haven't a clue. Standing around looking lost and vulnerable may attract thieves, con artists and other scoundrels. If you really are lost, go into a decent-looking shop and ask for directions, or else ask any woman who is passing by. If you need to hire a taxi, especially when you are alone at night, it's better to get one from a hotel or a taxi stand, or else call a radio taxi, if the service is available, rather than flagging one down on the street (which isn't always possible, anyway). When you are staying in a hotel, check the windows to make sure they can be closed and locked securely. If the doors and windows are not secure, get a different room. Always keep your door locked even when you are in the room. It's good to keep a cell phone with you in case of emergency. India now has a universal emergency number (108) that you can call for any kind of emergency. For safe trips to India contact Swan Tours, one of the leading travel agents in India at 011 23415601
2 Comments
8/26/2023 04:27:09 am
invaluable resource, addressing a critical need for safety awareness while traveling in India. The comprehensive tips provide women with essential knowledge to navigate their journeys confidently
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8/26/2023 06:03:40 am
As your personal travel agents, it is our goal to provide you with exceptional, personalized travel services. We would love to get to know you and your interests so we can make sure that every detail of your dream vacation is perfect for you! At TravelHolics, we will treat your vacation as if it were our own.
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