Girls on a trip: is it really dangerous to travel alone?

How to answer the question: It is not dangerous for a girl to go on a trip alone?

 
Two different things in one question: Going on a trip alone and, being a girl on a trip. To the first, it is easy to answer: no, it is neither dangerous nor difficult to go on a trip alone. The second is more complex: it depends on the context. Broadly speaking, it is no more dangerous to explore the world when you are a girl, provided you are discerning and adaptable. 
Here are some thoughts on this delicate subject based on my experience. They are, of course, very personal, so don’t take them literally. In any case, caution and reflection are always called for. There is no magic formula, an accident, an aggression can always happen, here or elsewhere. 
But this should not lock you up in fear and prevent you from travelling the world, alone!
 

Believing that a girl runs more risks on a solo trip is believing in the weakness of girls. It means believing in chimeras

Their small, vulnerable, muscle-less bodies, their supposed inability to fight back, to defend themselves, manipulable, malleable and frightening-able… all this perpetuates the idea that a girl is a born victim. This is why people usually ask: “is it dangerous to travel alone?” and add “when you are a girl”. I don’t agree with that.
First of all, not all men are cut out like Schwarzenegger and as capable of defending themselves as Chuck Norris. You don’t have to train with the Special Forces to go alone, it’s a journey, not an action film. Boy or girl, the chances are equal.
 

Men and women run slightly different risks

A girl is more likely to be sexually assaulted, but a boy is more likely to be involved in fights. A girl on a trip will think twice before accepting an invitation from a stranger to visit the area on her scooter while a boy will jump at the opportunity.
Boys are more likely to get into dangerous situations. This is a well-known fact among insurers: cockfighting, more violent, riskier physical or sporting challenges give very significant figures on the accident rate. The chances of encountering problems abroad are therefore equal whether one is a man or a woman, just different.
 

Travelling abroad alone is not dangerous, but a girl needs to be more attentive to the context

In some countries, girls do not behave as they do in Europe and sexuality is very different.
For example, they never go out alone but are accompanied by a male relative. A respectable girl would never walk alone in the streets. The men in these countries will consider a lonely traveller as a girl who is available and open to all requests. This is false and unfair of course, but it is a real culture shock. They imagine westerners as sexually liberated and that is not false. That doesn’t mean that they give in to all the advances and accept being groped because they are wearing a dress or shorts. Sometimes you have to set the record straight.
 
On top of these preconceived ideas comes the lack of sex education. In some countries, boys have very few opportunities to have a girlfriend before marriage and sex is so taboo that neither boys nor girls know anything about it. Girls are protected like banks, no chance to flirt! Finally, the importance of virginity and the risk of pregnancy demonise and exclude sex outside marriage. To learn more about sexuality, all boys have to do is watch X-rated films in which white women plays… 
This doesn’t mean that a girl alone can’t walk the streets of Cairo or Delhi without a bodyguard. You have to adapt, pay attention to your outfit and be aware of the cultural and traditional context, adapt your attitude. If one respects the basic rules of caution, there is no reason for things to go wrong.
 

Girls are not weak and fragile little things, they are just as capable of travelling on their own as men

The girls have courage, endurance, determination. To consider women as a weaker sex is to say that men are strong, brave, infallible… Is that so? All of them?
Men and women are equal, that’s undeniable. Our bodies are different but so complementary. If a man’s muscle mass is greater, a woman’s endurance or speed can be higher. Being a girl is not a curse that will prevent you from making the journey of your life. Girls have strengths and weaknesses just like men.
 

Fear should not rule your life, this is even more true when travelling

You can feel fear. It makes us a potential victim. Try to understand the irrationality of this feeling and move forward. Don’t look at the world around you with paranoia and fearYou’ll be able to defend yourself.
When travelling, you need to trust your instincts more than in your own country. Abroad, you don’t know the codes, body language, humour or simply the language. All these little clues that unconsciously allow us to analyse a situation. So you have to use your instinct, your sensitivity and above all listen to them!
 

Conclusion : No, it is not dangerous for a girl to go on a trip alone

Set sail, cast off and embark on this great journey that could change your whole life! Don’t do anything stupid. Be aware of the environment, the culture, listen carefully to what your little voice whispers, think about it and don’t let yourself be impressed. Be firm about your intentions, be confident and everything will be fine. 
In addition to living great adventures, you will surely discover that the world is much less dangerous than you might think and that 99% of people are just like you!

Still need advice to prepare for your big trip?

It sounds silly, but it’s really far from obvious to all travellers!

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