Women: How safe she is in your place, especially on travel?

When I was younger I did ms overseas on my own and I am female. I found Indonesian men challenging on the island of Sumatra. I was on a bus and the conductor put his hand on my leg. I found that very unpleasant and scary. I found that men would follow me and try to touch me. I had a number of men walk up to me and propose. I talked to a Dutch couple and when they were together they didn't have any problems. If the man went to the restroom the lady had men bothering her. So I would say physical abuse is common to lone women travelers there. It was in the Maldives on a lonely beach that I got attacked. These days I travel with my disabled toddler son and baby daughter. In my area that I live in it is safe for ladies in the day time. Like anywhere sometimes bad things can happen in the night time. I don't like to go out in the late evening alone.

Hello Sreekala, You know i have spent my childhood in South India, but i am a native on the Northern part. It is more harassing for women to travel alone here in North India. My place is not good either. You would find the streets empty after 10 at night, only a few motor-vehicles on the road. I don't know why they make such excuses coz as far as i believe no woman wears such revealing kinds of dresses while travelling, whatsoever. It's the men who get excited seeing the woman travelling alone.

I'm not sure how safe I am in anywhere. I don't use the public transport in the city I am in after having my purse stolen once and I am very careful with autos and avoid using them after dark. I read the report you mentioned and I have to mention that I have had many similar experiences while in Kerala. Funny part is that none of it happened when I was in jeans and so-called provocative clothing and it often happened when I was in a school uniform or accepted forms of clothing in Kerala. I hated using the public buses and groping was a usual affair...and mostly from old men! The young boys/men would just comment or whistle but some old men were really bad. There were other people who would show obscene gestures too. I didn't know who I could talk to...especially when all this happened when I was alone. When we girls were in a group, we ignored and walked away and felt safe but it would scare me when I happened to be alone.

Women are fairly safe here but we have to take precautions like not encouraging talk with strangers, paying attention to everything around us. If men have problems with dress codes, that's not the woman's fault--it's the men's fault because they can't control themselves. They are just admitting that they are weak and have no control, worse than an animal. I have always had an issue with this kind of attitude and it's not just in this case--people complain about all sorts of things and claim they are forced to do something because of their own lack of self control. It happens here, too. Time for everyone to develop some self-discipline and control!

Well I think in our country, there are places when traveling alone for women wouldn't be safe at all like in places like Mindanao where terrorists rule. In face even a well known woman journalist was kidnapped and was held for long time in that place and it was really a big story here in our place some years back. At any rate, apart from that place, I believe other places in our country remain safe as I myself do travel alone and has not experienced anything untoward. But of course as much as possible, it is always better to have companions than traveling just alone if you are a woman.

Hi Sree This problem is now omnipresent, but more so in big cities and metros.. You know i have served in different places in my state and travel extensively, street romoes we find every where, even in train and buses, police does not take any action.. let me tell you, there are girls who tease guys, i have seen many in college campus too.. Thank you so much for this timely discussion. Professor. . Cheers have a lucky day ahead. God bless you. Welcome always.

Dear Sree. As I am from South India, the article you have mentioned is much aware. As long as women are physically weak it would be difficult if they get into male physical attack. The remedies are there, may be the most important is self consciousness that women are women and to be careful at all places. I feel the role of family and education have great impact on them. A school level awareness classes and other training should be given girls. I feel this would give a great impact of safeness of women. Why could a less priced gadgets should be found may be one switch alarm systems when a girl gets attacked, just a switch on and she can aware the people around she is in danger. Lots of safety gadgets are in market why can these technology people find some thing like that a small chip on the bras or under garment, when it is touched by a stranger the alaram goes on increasing sound like "Please do not rape me, my dear brother" "Help me......Hope soon technology could do some help hands....May be it hurts more if someone close are victims.....

Well, I would say that there is no safe place on earth. But here in our country, that offensive action of men did not happen. Because men here respect women and did not do anything harm to them most especially in public places. Because men shy to get in touch with women... There might cases something like that but it's an isolated cases. Which we can say out 365 days only 2 or 4 cases being happen... Another violence which is not avoidable also is rape. Which is violence against women. Besides the law which is protection against women. There are still cases beyond that particular incident. The men in your country should educate to learn how to respect women. Your country is now a center of technology development and there might be great changes in form of behavioral actions and education. That man should not blame women but blame himself because of his blatant desire for women. Men in your country should be know how to control themselves most particularly in public places... Women should not blame if men committed violent. Because women have the right to wear on what they feel good to wear...

I understand that women are not safe when traveling alone but with education and awareness this situation can be avoided. I was born and brought up in north India but staying in South India after marriage. I would like to say that like one of our friends has said it is very unsafe to travel alone in North India than in the south. The part of India you have mentioned despite of the fact they are a literate state are very narrow minded people who never like a woman to be independent. They speak about one thing and behave in another manner. Leave alone traveling alone they never allow woman to voice her thoughts and views. It is the situation created by such male dominating society. Personally i am person who has traveled throughout India alone both by night trains and also by night buses but have never faced such problems. Happy mylotting.

hello sister, That's sad to know how unsafe it is for women to travel in those places. Here in my country,there are certain places that is unsafe not only for women but also for men when you are not a resident of those particular area,but with the residents they know their place it's safe for them. Here in Metro Manila where i lived in,the City never sleeps. I have different work shifting and i can say that,it is safe for women to travel alone here in metro city,and even with other places here in the Philippines. This past 2 weeks i go to work as early as 2am and i need to ride a jeep and a bus to reach my work place. And,most of my women team colleague lives much far from our work place and leaves their homes earlier than i do. The other week is also a night shift,my off is 11pm and i have to ride bus and jeep before reaching home. Dress code,i think you are aware that here in my country women dressed like western people. Some women here are almost naked,dressed and leave nothing to imagination. Well,that's maybe one reason why men here in my country are used to it and don't even bother if panties or undies are showing...it's not a new view for them..hahahaha. Well,it's safe here in my place,and other parts of the country for women to travel alone. Have a good day always dear sister

Hiya Sreekala, Only just a Day ago a very young, very pretty Girl came around the Doors asking for Food. I never understand her as she is from somewhere I think it´s Rumania actually but I did understand her motive. But she was without her Mother. Last Year she came with her Mom but this time she is on her own. How shocking for such a young Girl to be out like this when the Door that opens to her next could be a "weird strange" Person. You know what I mean don´t you. She is so pretty and so young that she could "Fall Prey" to any of those kind of People. Where on her was her Mother this Girl cannot be above nine years of age. I gave her a packet of Biscuits but if her Mother had gone with her I would have given her extra. I just did not know what to do for sure. She could run into danger and her Mother would not know of it and would not be able to help her either. Thought I would mention that one as it is on the increase too.

Hiya Sreekala, Although I live here in Spain it is not really safe for any Woman or young Girl to be out on her own let alone traveling anywhere else. There is a false myth here that you are safe but you are not. More than once I have had to free myself from some bothersome Man who had taken into his Head other ideas which were not mine at all. Thank goodness I managed to flee from them and get Home safe. No it is not really a safe Country at all. I think that Women everywhere should be on guard always. I found one right in my Parent´s House while visiting England once and I quickly told him where to go. Take care now.xxx

I think the saree blouse we wear are not bad, provided much of the belly or clevage is not exposed, but many wear too small sleeveless blouses, wear saree below navel, enough to provocate men.. yes while travelling alone we are more unsafe, normally i travel with my hubby or sons, only when i go to my daughters home 50kms away i go alone by train or bus happy mylotting cheers kalyni

Hi Sreeji In india situation is similar in almost all states, the way the girls wear saree below navel, exposing clevage, the blouse are more like bras, back is fully open. Even those who wear salwar-kameez, never keep the dupatta in its right place, in my city one PG student was mass raped, the saddest point is she came with a group of guys of her own accord. thanks for this timely post kalyani

Hi Sree, it's really indignant and sad that there are still similar cases happen here about women and girls are harassed and raped by cheeky culprits once in a while. It's very hard to guard against culprits that are abnormal and having intention to commit such crime even though enforcement of punishment to oppose their dreadful violence. Fortunate that it's still safe for female to travel alone riding on either personal or public vehicle. Six years back I had been travelling in my own car to the working place in a remote small town. The journey was two hours or so from my house to the destination. If my colleague went back to the work place with me I usually would depart at around eight in the evening. If not I usually left for the destination early in the morning about five forty five. Thank god nothing undesirable happened in the two year to and fro route. What scared me the most was passing through a huge rubber estate. It seemed like black as night. I's afraid that my car lamps didn't work at that very moment the first time I experienced the journey alone I seemed to upset myself for no reason eh...lol... Sharing my own true experience here just to let you know it's still safe for a woman to travel alone in her own vehicle alone. It's safe as well for a female to travel alone on a a public transport without company. To me it's always safe to walk alone in crowded places and busy road and avoid to be in the dark where there are less passerby. Thanks for the share of the report and I have leaned lots of info after reading. I would be nagging if I keep on chatting about the influence of dress code here Take care and have a nice day

Such harassment of women by men is illegal in the U.S., but it still occurs to a lesser extent. Due to the manner in which some of the young women dress, I can hardly blame men for thinking that they were hookers. That is another story and does not be the case in the article you referenced.

Hi Sree, yes dear its every where.. Its difficult travel alone in public transport.. There are some worst males who just get drunked and get into to bus.. in Bangalore ladies get in and out through front door of bus and gents back door.. but some males wantedly get into bus through front door when the bus is rush and specially full of ladies infront.. Some men even harrase ladies in rush bus its really disgusting..

Compared to some of other places around the world Denmark is a relatively safe place for women to travel, but sometimes there are women who get raped or murdered. My country might be less dangeruos for women than some the other countries in world, but it is not a completely safe place. I live in a village in the countryside and there isn't much crime here, but in the big cities I would never walk around alone at night if I can avoid it. I once had a job where I finished work around midnight and I had to walk from the train station to my home. I always walked as fast as I could because I didn't feel comfortable walking alone at that time of the night.

Hi sree... I have posted a discussion regarding this issue. Perhaps you did not see. Here is a link and it will make you clear how much safe our women while traveling? http://www.mylot.com/w/discussions/2406717.aspx Again, when i see something written like " harassing women passenger is a punishable offense" on train. I just ask myself... are we civilized? are we completely human? Have a nice day.

Women are not at all safe in any place on earth. women molested,abused,raped etc that's what can be heard everyday.Nor any government nor any laws can prevent this,if this kind of situation prevails for long a day will come when women will fear to come out of their homes..