Sexual Harassment
Some thoughts on avoiding sexual harassment and sexual assaults:
Be aware of how you carry yourself and dress, as well as your facial expressions and body language. Avoid looking like the stereotypical American; conservative dress may help deflect at least some of the potential harassers (avoid wearing micro miniskirts on the street even if you see local women wearing them).
An effective way to avoid stares while on the street or the buses or trains is to read.
Usually the best response to unwanted stares, comments or touches is to ignore the harasser and to remove yourself from the situation quickly and calmly. Although verbal responses often work, cursing your harasser in the local language or English may result in being assaulted. Avoidance is the safest tactic.
If you continue to be followed, spoken to, or touched after repeated attempts to get away, try to remove yourself to a very public place. Tell your harasser firmly and calmly to leave you alone. Sometimes threatening to get the police is effective, but sometimes the police are less than supportive.
