last time: female attire?

whatsilliness

ok, ive read quite a few packing lists and the (controversial) "is this appropriate attire" post but im still kind of confused.

I imagined taking several loose cotton pants, loose t-shirts... but essentially buying some clothing in India and spending most of my time in that attire. It seems to me that that is the most respectful and trouble-avoiding path.
I am a young female and, travelling alone, i want to avoid hassling men as much as i can (they annoy me enough in new york!!)

but, long flowing pretty skirts are totally ok, right?

also, when "going out" to eat or what not.. this is an allowance for more "revealing" (open) clothing? that seemed to be the point in previous posts..


thanks in advance.

wonderwomanusa

I recall a young woman boarding a bus somewhere, wearing a long flowing skirt, and the look on her face when the fellow behind her stuck his hands up her skirt! Wear 'em at your own risk!

>also, when "going out" to eat or what not.. this is an allowance for more "revealing" (open) clothing? that seemed to be the point in previous posts..<

Well, you might want to wear something more revealing when going to a club to dance, or to a private party in the homes of the wealthy, but -- depending where you are and with whom you're hanging out -- going out to eat isn't the sort of thing we do in NYC or SF.

Just my two paise, eh?

Nick-H

Oh Good! I'm glad you're not coming here to hassle us

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anita_5000

long skirts are quite popular in certain metro areas. couple of months back long skirts with matching tops were in vogue. Even the Indian shops in Sydney were selling them like hotcakes. I think it comes down to what you are comfortable with. Loose fitting pants with tops are also a good option. And there are a lot of ready made stuff which one can buy.

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phantom

Whatever you wear. Avoid overcrowded places like crowded buses and markets, if you are travelling alone. Because then, if its crowded, then it doesnt matter even if you are wearing a "BURKA" and covering your body from head to toe, you will get hassled.
For parties and clubs, you can wear whatever you want. But my advice will be to make friends fast and dont travel alone

Carpe_Diem

But my advice will be to make friends fast and dont travel alone [/quote]

Is it really so dangerous in india that all solo female travellers must find a companion fast or face dire consequences? Im not saying india is an entirely safe country, but surely common sense and precautions would allow any young female travellor the ability to travel solo.

phantom

No.. I am sorry. I didnt mean to discourage you all. I was just saying that it will be a lot more easy if you have a company . Otherwise covering yourself up and avoiding overcrowded and deserted places will be enough.

whatsilliness

ok, this can be considered a new "thread" but-- what is it in Indian culture that makes such, i guess extreme, groping ok? what is the cause/root?

Is it only directed at foreigners(westerners) because of Bollywood portrayals and stereotypes and such or is it the same behaviour towards indian women?

Sama

any guy that tried that with me would get the same response, whether in the USA or India, a swift kick to the family jewels....

since I doubt I will do much partying, my India wardrobe will consist of loose pants, like cargo pants, loose capris, t-shirts, and camisoles (for yoga school) with shoulder wraps, probably 1 or 2 jeans. I plan on bringing one SK with me to wear right away, but plan on buying more while in India.

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Nick-H

First, I can say quite safely as I have female Indian friends, it is not only foreign women. Foreign women probably get stared at more because there aren't many Indian blondes, but Indian women get all the rest on a day-to-day basis.

Now, I'm going to get jumped on from a great hight by Indian IMers, as I'm this I've gathered rather than been told... The average Indian man of 20 has the sexual experience and knowledge of the average European 12-year old. They don't even get to see women naked in films, whereas breasts, at least, are fairly commonplace on TV in UK (although I recall a big fuss over the appearance of one on US tv a while back).

Pause to cringe at the depth and breadth of that generalisation, and stumble on....

I don't want to reinforce or peddle any stereotypes here, including the Indian perception that Westerners have sex at the drop of a hat, and, as I have got to know people in India and formed intimate relationships myself with Indian women I have learnt that a lot more sex goes on than India would have us believe. But it is true that India does not have the sexual freedom of the West. Many men and women are marrying their first sexual partner.

So, put yourself in the position of a 12-year old whose dreams might be dominated for weeks by having been pushed up against a real woman's breast on a bus...

I could be terribly wrong about this: someone will be along in a minute to tell me. In the meantime I'm off to do some research. Where's the nearest busstop?

LuAnnandJawahar

Long skirts are great, especially for peeing under less than ideal circumstances......

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Kanbe

all this groping...sounds like boarding the train in Japan....

*jyoti*

I don't really know how to point out how absolutely ridiculous this is without being completely snide, sarcastic, and insulting, but I will try. But, come on! An entire country of hormone enraged young men who have been so sexually repressed that they (gasp!) haven't been constantly bombarded with sexual images let alone culture wide voyeurism who are therefore wandering around with a 24-7 hard-on and incapable of keeping a straight enough mind that if a young woman of 15 to 65 happens to come within hands' reach they can't keep from physically violating her by fondling her, reaching up her skirt, etc? And, what, seeing naked women or borderline porn will somehow release those hormones to a managable level rather than excite and frustrate even more?

I am offended for the men of India. I am offended for the sake of my Indian, male friends who are quite content to honor their future wives by not having sex in the meantime, who have somehow managed to control their impulses and not sexually molest every unprotected female they come in contact with, and would be horrified and enraged if anyone ever attempted that with anyone of their acquaintance.

Whatever the reason, there is no excuse to treat any woman as described and it is insulting to her to play off such a violation as just a some overgrown kids playing around.

whatsilliness

I have never been to india, so please do not get offended by my questions. I didnt post that answer, and i cant disagree or agree...But then what IS the reason that in India these occurences are SO much more common?
Granted- i have not been to india yet. YET, and im sure will come up with an answer of my own after my stay.
but everywhere you read about how in India: women get groped.

and you cant blame it simply on the fact that it is a developing country and thus different norms from the west.. because Brazil is a developing country, and though it is obviously stated many times over to not wear over-ly revealing clothing that begs for attention while there: there is no mention of the sheer large amount of "harrassment" towards females as there is in India.

What makes many- i am not saying all- but many, as this is what i have picked up on here in IM and on other India female travel stories- many males think it is OK for them to come up to a woman and grope her? in public?
Its not ok by the females, its not ok by other males, and yet there is this large undercurrent of it being OK as there are so many occurences... what is the cause?

From what ive picked up on India and its culture.. i think it is safe to say that obviously India is much more conservative sexually (which is so interesting considering its very sexual art and scultpure..)
It is conservative and more repressed.. more repressed if we are to hold Freuds hand means urges are repressed and build up and need release.
but do we want to go so far as to say that India is uncivilized and so people dont have the "western decency/knowdlege" to repress their urges?
i dont think so..
Furthermore, women need to be covered up- not head to toe but, covered up..
Can that be taken to the fact that women are still very much second-class citizens? And as such are viewed with less respect and so their wishes arent as respected?
When i said this before, many female travellers said no not at all.

but then what is the reason?

There are the answers that help one to understand a culture after all, eh?

Kanbe