Women Travellers in Egypt
Do women travel solo in Egypt?
Plenty of women come to Egypt alone each year. Some spend two weeks on a beach by the Red Sea as part of a package, while others backpack across Egypt independently. Almost all of them enjoy a trouble free stay.
Will I get a lot of attention?
You can expect lots of attention! This is true for both men and women, whether in the form of persistent attempts at conversation or selling you a typical Egyptian souvenir. Outside of the major resorts where locals are less accustomed to seeing tourists, blatant staring is also commonplace. This can be a little unnerving at first, but in most instances it is just plain curiosity.
As a woman alone however, you can expect numerous ‘sleazy’ Egyptian men to engage you in conversation with an ‘agenda’ other than to sell you a postcard or a tea towel. Wolf-whistling, hissing, and muttered comments are sadly the norm in many touristy areas.
Why is this?
Unfortunately western women in Egypt are stereotyped as ‘easy’ due to the cultural differences that exist, the portrayal of women in western media and to some extent the behaviour of some tourists that visit the country. It’s not uncommon to see older European women with young Egyptian men and indeed this kind of sex tourism is on the increase. Unfortunately, some Egyptian men tar all western women with the same brush.
What should I do if I feel harassed?
Sleazy men are best ignored outright or cut off with a sharp “La shukran” – no thank you or “khalas”, meaning ‘enough”. If a man makes you feel in anyway uncomfortable or tries to touch you (however innocently) or kiss you on the cheek you should walk away and remove yourself from the situation.
What dangers are there?
Attacks on women and rape are very rare, however some of the busier street markets can be the scene of random groping by young men who pinch or squeeze their victim inappropriately before disappearing into the crowd. Although unpleasant enough this is not usually dangerous and victims of such an attack should attempt to shame their assailants by pointing and yelling “Aram!” – meaning evil.
How can I keep safe / reduce the attention I receive?
Dressing modestly is the surest way to show respect for the local culture, appear respectable in the eyes of your hosts, and counter the stereotypes about western women. Read more about how to dress in Egypt?
It’s also worth learning a few Arabic phrases and conducting yourself confidently as though you know where you are and where you are going.
If you are travelling with your partner, wearing wedding rings will also help to show men that your relationship is serious.
Meeting and getting to know Egyptian women can also be a pleasure and a sure way of earning respect from the locals.
How can I meet Egyptian women?
Do some research online before you go. For example try Couchsurfers.com (link in the resource box below). This website helps travellers meet people in other countries that have either a couch to spare/ or just want to meet new people for coffee. If you search for 'women' in Egypt you’ll find several hundred everyday women from Egypt and elsewhere. Why no get in touch with some and meet for coffee during your trip.
If you speak Arabic, you’ll be able to make friends fast with women from all different backgrounds of life. It’s easy to make friends with women shopkeepers in the areas of Dar Al-Salam and Hadayiq al-Maadi in Cairo which are easy to get to by the Metro. You'll just have to keep your eyes open and do some walking around to find the women. But, you need to know Arabic to do this because few of the ladies in this area speak English.
If you don't speak Arabic, it will be trickier to find opportunities to meet women. You'll need to look for women in upscale malls or the women who keep small stores around the touristy areas since these women more likely speak some English. You may have luck going to Coptic churches (i.e. Coptic Cairo) and talking with the ever present women in the churches there.
During school holidays, major tourist sites in Cairo and Alexandria are littered with extremely friendly, curious school children most of which are accompanied by their mothers. These interactions also provide a really good opportunity to meet women and their kids.
Many travel agencies in Egypt also have a number (although a minority) of female tour guides on their books.
For More Information:
Couch Surfers - A good place to meet Egyptian women on line and other women travellers in Egypt
Women's Association of Cairo - A mostly expat network but may be able to comment you with women in Egypt
Women of Egypt Project - A database of women in positions of influence in Egypt
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