What are some of the best and worst countries for female nomads? Why and how did you realize this?

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Accepted Answer

I've read many comments on this thread and I think what most women are talking about are cultural differences vs actual threats. As a woman who has been attacked and had a few attempts of actual kidnapping, I stand very strong on not mixing over-flirting with actual danger.Many countries which are being mentioned here have different flirting and dating traditions. They are different from what you see in Europe, USA, Canada, Australia... It doesn't mean that they are bad, they are different. In some countries it's OK to whistle on the street to a girl and to tell her that her butty is like the passion fruit. That's not an intent to harass, that's a compliment. And if you look how local girls react - they play that flirting game and enjoy it. In other countries there's no concept of private space, hence people can stand very close to you, touch you and follow you. In some countries, it's normal that a man is following you on the street, enters a restaurant, and sits at your table. Yes, it's shocking for European women, but they think that it's normal. They literally don't understand what's wrong with that. In many countries when a girl is saying "No" with a smile on her face it's considered as a flirt and invitation to continue the conversation, and do something more to get her attention. The man is showing that he values a girl that much that he is still eager to fight for a chance to spend time with her. In their mind, it's a compliment to you.So if you're coming from western countries, you would treat it as harassment. But it's not, it has no bad intention and is just a problem of cultural differences.And interesting observation: in all those countries men are acting more masculine, but they have no idea how to stand in case the girl becomes tough and aggressive. Which is a huge benefit to women. When I got attacked in a taxi in Egypt, it took me only 2 punches for the guy to get tremendously scared. If that would happen in Europe or the USA, it would not be enough. But for that to work you need to be able to act like that. Learn the basics of self-defence, which will make you more confident and less scared of men :) And if you really want to stop the conversation, don't smile and say "No", but do it firmly and address it with their cultural specific (in many cultures it's a huge offense to disrespect women, so you can explicitly appeal to respect in your words). I can say that I definitely feel more danger on small streets in New York (a real danger to get attacked with a gun or a knife) than in Turkey, India or Cuba. So let's distinguish real danger: when a guy uses physical force against you (grabs and doesn't let you go), or is pointing a weapon against you vs local traditions in flirting and dating which can be strange to western women. What I find useful is reading about local culture in advance as well as talking with local guys on how they usually flirt and what they mean by that. It's extremely easy to get to a friendship zone with men and to have honest conversations. The more you understand their traditions, the more pleasure you will get from traveling around the world.

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🇹🇷 turkey literally broke my soul. I couldn't wear what I wanted to, I was constantly talked down to, when I was paying In food shops men would cut in front of me and that was okay. I was sworn at, abused on the street and people would try to physically violate me every single day. I had never felt so attacked. This was 3 months that was meant to be 12 in my digital nomad hub . 😔🙁😟😞

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On behalf of all men, globally, I'm so sorry :( Sadly, safety, and simply respect, for women is an issue is most countries in which I've travelled. Some far worse than others. The reality is we men struggle a lot with feeling inadequate, not powerful and capable enough, and (in too many places in the world) have had bad role models in regard to how we should relate to and treat women (let alone those who identify as female, regardless of underlying biology). I have some amazing female friends (and role models) who have managed to travel the world, often in places where I myself would have been afraid. They were able to combine an ability to align to local expectations and "disappear" with having a 'calm confidence' and ability to (as needed) confront male suppressors/aggressors in a way which quickly showed 'who was boss'. Other power women I know have managed to leverage a combination of 'mother' and 'daughter' roles to bring out the best (in us, very insecure) men. What has worked best for most female nomads I've known (and travelled with) is being with 4+ other women or with a male. Yes, this is wrong ... on so many levels ... but it's a way to be able to travel without having to be "on guard" all the time. I've travelled with many women this way and it's also very much a positive for us men but, yes, probably best to 'set expectations' in advance since, well, until we're 50 or so, our (male) thinking truly is below our waist. For what it's worth, in my 30+ years as a nomad, I have seen some (very slight) improvements for women ... but, yes, we have SO FAR to go and, in just too many countries, women are seen as being inferior/2nd-class citizens/"incomplete" without a male (or even "possessions"). Like racism, it's a life-long brainwashing which women are subjected to, sickeningly often very much by other (older) women, and so the barrier is not just men ... but also, very much, local women (especially if you are a foreigner, let alone a young -unmarried- woman and, far worse, if you are blond ... which seems to have all kinds of insane beliefs associated with hair color). Net: the world is still far too sexist, far too biased against women, unsafe for women and simply (sickeningly) unfair ... but, as women who have risen to the top positions in their countries realize, there is a way to achieve your goals, while being yourselves, but - as people of color realize - it takes planning, support and, sadly, even then, there's always the risk of being "accosted while being female" (similar to pulled over while "driving while black"). As I have many female friends who I deeply love and respect, I do hope to change this in my lifetime ... but I've been a feminist since the 1970s and, well, we have a long way to go still :( May your travels be safe and enjoyable!

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The world is not some amusement park that exists for your entertainment. You need to adjust wherever you go. While there are no guarantees, in so far as you do that, you will be fine wherever you go. Your being female has very little to do with it. Sorry to burst your ideological bubble.

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India was the most challenging because of men, the safest I felt was in Thailand

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