I know women who have traveled to Iran. The only thing they had to do differently was dress modestly and wear a head covering.

I have heard the same thing about the attitudes toward foreign women. They wouldn’t say or act this way toward local women but feel foreigners are fair game. Which is really sad on many levels.

I completely understand why you would feel that way. At the same time it saddens me that women even have to worry about it.

P.S. “Travel is very safe for anyone who has at least half a brain” – love this; so true!

Definitely irritating. I feel bad it’s the way it is.

I remember one instance in India, I was out with an Indian man, a coworker of an Israeli woman I met in Jerusalem. He was showing me around, we met for coffee and hung out twice. I told him I thought I was getting overcharged for my autorickshaw and so he made sure the guy ran the meter and sure enough, I was getting charged double. Am I splitting hairs over a dollar? Yeah, I am but for me it’s always a principle thing.

I knew I was being treated differently in many of the countries I visited because I was a woman. I tried not to automatically go there and give people the benefit of the doubt but after a while you realize it really is a man’s world outside the US (and often in the US) and it’s just irritating after that.

I appreciate your words though Talon. Thanks for writing this piece.

Unfortunately, that definitely seems to be true for many women.

Most definitely.