The best way to minimize problems when travelling in India is to dress appropriately. In big cities such as Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi local girls wear Westernised clothes, and bikinis and shorts are perfectly ok in Goa’s beaches, but in the countryside and small towns most women still wear the traditional sari or salwar kameez. To arrive in a small village wearing a strappy top and a short skirt is simply asking for trouble. Women travellers can prevent a lot of problems by choosing tops that cover shoulders, wearing long trousers or skirts, and avoiding anything see-through or too tight.
How to Deal With Eve-Teasing
Most female travellers who have spent some time in India have encountered at least mild harassment from local men: silly comments by young boys, or an attempt of groping in a crowd. There is even a word in India for this kind of behaviour: eve-teasing, and it means sexual harassment of women that can range from inappropriate comments and “accidentally” bumping into women to touching, groping, following and stalking, even sexually attacking women. One strange version of eve-teasing is young Indian men’s habit of breaking into a song whenever they walk by a Western woman. Despite laws against eve-teasing, it affects Indian and foreign women alike.
If being stared at, it is best just to ignore the starer. If being followed, seek help from passers-by or the police if there is one around; this usually gets rid of any unwanted “admirers”. Another option is to confront the follower in front of a large crowd – public humiliation works wonders. When it comes to groping, Indian women are not afraid to confront a groper either verbally or physically.
How to Travel Safely in India
While much of eve-teasing is more annoying than dangerous, there have been attacks against female tourists in India, and it only makes sense to be careful. It is best to avoid arriving in a new destination alone after dark. Lonely walks along unlit streets and quiet beaches are not recommended either. The same applies to cheap local cinemas that show Bollywood films, because the audience usually consists of a crowd of over-exited young boys.
At airports and train stations, pre-paid taxis are generally considered safer than hailing a taxi from the street, but it is still a good idea to try to team up with a group of other travellers if taking a taxi or an autorickshaw at night. Sometimes rickshaw drivers try to bring their male “friend” along on the ride – refuse this, or find another driver. When choosing a hotel, the best guide is one’s own intuition: if the place doesn’t feel comfortable and safe, go somewhere else. In trains there are often “ladies carriages” and in buses there are “ladies seats”.
While witnessing one of India’s festivals sounds like a wonderful cultural experience, most of the festivals also involve large groups of young men getting drunk on home-brewed booze, and it is a very bad idea to be a lone Western woman in a crowd of hundreds of drunk Indian men.
Recommended Reading for Women in India
A great insight into the life of Indian women is Elisabeth Bumiller’s May You Be The Mother Of A Hundred Sons. A funny intake on life in India as a Western woman is Sarah MacDonald’s Holy Cow.
Read here what to pack for a trip to India, and here are some tips to help plan a holiday in India.
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