Navigating Catcalling While Traveling: Empowering Safety for Black Women
I am absolutely all for women traveling solo. Encouraging women to do so is one of the main reasons for this platform. Most often, I talk about the upside, and though very few, there are some cons that are worth mentioning.
Unfortunately, one of the challenges women often face is catcalling, which has a tendency to make some women feel uncomfortable, objectified, and unsafe. It can happen anywhere, but I have most experienced it internationally where certain behaviors are more culturally engrained and locals are very much drawn to tourists.
The most important thing is our safety, so let’s get into preparedness tips and ways to cope when catcalling happens.
1. Practice awareness
When it comes to dealing with catcalling, prioritizing our safety should be our foremost concern. Before you travel, it’s important to do research and to know something about the culture of where you’re going.
In my experience, catcalling is a normalized behavior in many places, especially Caribbean and Latin countries. It’s unreasonable to go anywhere with the idea that it won’t happen to you or that you will be the one to change years of engrained behavior.
What is more important is being aware of the potential risks; familiarize yourself with crime rates, especially related to sex trafficking, kidnapping, and sexual assault. If the rates are alarmingly high, reconsider traveling to that destination. If the rates are low or pretty standard, then focus on best safety practices when you arrive. Do things like:
Register with the country’s embassy when applicable.
Know where you are at all times.
Participate in group activities.
Read a full list of solo female travel tips here.
Understand that while uncomfortable, catcalling in many places is mostly harmless. Be aware of your surroundings, stay alert, and learn to ignore or diffuse situations in which you feel uncomfortable.
2. The Power of Body Language and Confidence
Catcalling is less intimidating when you’re self-assured and exude confidence. People who catcall can tell when you’re uncomfortable. Even if you don’t feel comfortable, try to project confidence through your body language. Walk with purpose and intention, maintain eye contact, and you could even say hello back to convey that you aren’t afraid. How you posture yourself can send a message that you already know how attractive you are, you know why you’re being catcalled, but you aren’t flattered and will not engage.
3. Disengaging
People often mention ignoring as a way of disengaging. Ignoring is often a last resort, because realistically, catcallers will just keep going. The key to responding is a calculated response. You can say hello and then say no thank you or express that you aren’t interested and then keep it moving. If they continue, you might firmly express once again that you aren’t interested. If they still continue, then look straight ahead, ignore them, and continue on your way. Throughout the interaction, it’s important to disengage as peacefully as possible and portray that you are unfazed.
4. Creating Support Networks
Traveling can sometimes feel isolating in general, and especially if you end up having an uncomfortable interaction. Consider doing activities in groups, forming a support network of fellow travelers or meeting people you can trust at your destination that can provide a sense of security and comfort. Often, tour hosts and other travelers can act as a buffer between locals and will even help mitigate uncomfortable situations. Remember that you are most likely not the only one to have the experience, and it can be helpful to hear from others about how they’ve navigated similar situations.
5. Cultivating Inner Strength
Catcalling is in no way a reflection of your worth or desirability. Truthfully, catcallers will do it regardless of whether you’re attractive to them or not. Many of them do it simply because you’re a tourist and that’s what they believe they’re supposed to do. Be reminded that you are strong, beautiful, deserving of respect, and ultimately deserving of a fun, safe, and enjoyable trip.
While catcalling is a reality of traveling, we can best manage it by possessing inner strength and outer assertiveness that helps us navigate these situations without losing our cool or our dignity. It can’t be your responsibility to change others' behavior, but it is within our control to do what we can to have an enjoyable travel experience.
