women tourists & cultural stereotypes

Women tourists experience uncomfortable cultural stereotypes in India

"According to a recurring Forbes survey on the world's friendliest countries for expatriates and tourists, India ranked in one of the last slots for the second year in a row.

India's not-so-friendly attitude towards tourists in general and female tourists in particular, varies in different regions. While the southern and western parts of the country rank favourably, north India is unanimously the most prejudiced culturally."


hmmmmm.....what say you about the article?

this seems to be on expected lines... while i could travel with my wife comfortably on chennai local trains 2nd class during the weekend, this is something i would not have even dared in delhi local trains.

Nothing new, but absolutely factual!

a friend is in India right now, western woman who speaks Hindi. she understands what is being said about her, in front of her. she said at least the people look ashamed when she answers them back in Hindi....

No - they tend to have 'assumptions' about the footloose, independent, confident woman. I believe IRT Lisa was called a whore(not to her face of course, they wouldn't have the gonads for that - in Hindi & behind her back) on more than one occasion ..... just because she was driving a truck.

in my experience, a footloose, independent, confident (read: "takes no ") woman makes some people uncomfortable no matter where you are in the world. at least when you don't understand the language you can't hear them call you a bitch and a whore.

just sayin'.

Forbes survey?

Who do they survey?

Wealthy 2 week tourists or low-mid budget backpackers?

The burden of preconception weighs heavier on the short trippers in my opinion, less research, little interest in local culture and so on.

There. I adjusted it for you



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Stereotypes exist. You cannot get rid of it. Eons ago (i.e when Italian lira was wobbly.....what else is new...) Italian men would hit on any woman they thought was a) Americano b) displayed blinky eyelashy midwestern accent.

This got recently reinforced and resurrected with the movie Eat Pray Love. Alas.... men being men; the more repressed the more testerone poisoned.

More so in traditionally seeped societies, where sexism prevails. How one treats their own (women and children) gives one an indication of how they might treat others.

Maybe part stereotype & part wishful thinking..

Yeah...a lot of times I REALLY wonder what is being said in the lengthy Hindi conversation around me...

No you don't. Take it from me while I actually knew the language. Worst is if you know the language of your inlaws..

This isn't a fair statement, I wonder if you've actually taken the delhi metro? It's very female friendly - there're reserved women only coaches, women volunteers....even female pickpockets.

i was referring to local train, i do understand that metro gets a different crowd (more polished?), though i haven't tried it yet (will do in Oct).

I think, Indians are very friendly towards tourists. We could do with more personal space when we are there, but the Indians are far from unfriendly in my experience.

There are way too many Indian men who behave in a sleezy way towards western women, but I think that is more due to ignorance than unfriendliness. My boyfriend says it is because they are hoping we really are as sexually liberal as rumour leads them to believe. I think, those types of men do this to Indian women too though, from what I have read.