On whether India is a safe destination for solo women travelers

By priyankakher79 On March 1, 2013 · 5 Comments

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The topic of women traveling solo is generating a lot of heat on the web at the moment. Whether it is to do with reactions over the murder of American citizen ( also a solo traveler) Sarai Sierra in Turkey or the general concern about the safety of women highlighted by the New Delhi rape case, it’s all there and people are talking.

And rightly so.

Violence against women and the general air of non-safety that engulfs their very being is an issue that requires immediate attention. In saying so, however, sometimes the debates and reactions can be misleading and certain countries can turn into softer targets when being judged for safety parameters.

India, I feel is one of the countries on that list. Writing about whether India is a safe destination for solo women travelers on Huffington Post, I have tried to offer insights as someone who was born and raised in India.

“The web is abuzz with stories and articles highlighting the issue of whether it’s safe for women to travel solo. The consensus, for the most part (mostly by women travelers) is that it’s not the actual travel or travel to one particular country that is the problem. It’s the mindset and the growing problem of general violence against women in world. I agree.

The only thing that I am willing to admit is that India is guilty of this too. On a bigger scale, violence has manifested itself in sexual crimes and brutality, in the smaller sense it is limited to incorrigible stares and teasing on the road. To that effect, as a solo woman traveler to India, it is important to know what you are getting into. And then deal with it accordingly.”

On whether India is a safe destination for solo women travelers- Huffington Post- Mar 2013

To read more, click here.

Have an opinion? Tell me what you think or write a comment. This is an issue that affects us all.

(original post on www.roadiswheretheheartis.com)

5 responses to On whether India is a safe destination for solo women travelers

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Scott Hartman said on March 3, 2013

Priyanka – at the film festival I watched a film last night that you must see. By an Indian woman living in Toronto, it’s called “The World Before Her.” Contrasts the Miss India pageant with time spent in an Indian Nationalist ‘camp’ for children. Powerful stuff
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Priyanka Kher said on March 2, 2013

Hey Alexa,

So glad that this piece could be of help to you. India, like any other country has problems, this I cannot deny but the idea is to be careful. Hope you get to go as soon as possible
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Priyanka Kher said on March 2, 2013

Thanks for your perspective Scott. And thanks for reading, as always
Alexa Piepul said on March 2, 2013

Thank you for posting this article! India is one of the countries I would most like to visit, and the increasingly pervasive idea of it being unsafe for women is really disheartening. I think your point is exactly correct; a woman can experience danger in any country, and the risk is only going to increase if she’s in a place where she does not know the language or how to get around. I don’t think this risk should prevent me (or anyone) from traveling to India or anyplace else, though; I think it should simply be a reminder to be careful and use common sense.
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Scott Hartman said on March 1, 2013

A great topic, especially in light of recent events. The recent events in Delhi were certainly beyond reprehensible, and several days later I noticed another such news story from rural India. In saying this, I am in no way minimizing what happened in Delhi . . . this problem, women’s safety, Everywhere, is THE issue. We (here in the States, say) may read of incidents in this country or that, and think – “My God, can’t go there,” while in my own country violence against women is grossly underreported, if these events are reported at all (and far too many aren’t).

I live in Sun Valley, Idaho and today is the first full day of the partially-UN sponsored Women’s Film Festival. The emphasis this year is Women in War, and much of the talk is about violence against women. I went to the premier talk last night and came away with tears in my eyes. This problem, women and violence is everywhere, not just in India. (Sorry for the tangent)

This problem is certainly not isolated in India, it is everywhere. And everywhere, women must be aware.