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If you’re a woman, then you’d probably agree that one
of the most vexing issues to continually confront women on a daily basis
is the subject of what to wear. Though in most circumstances you can get
away with paying relatively little attention to your clothing, when
you’re travelling abroad, it pays to pay attention to what you wear.
This is particularly true when travelling through the Third World, for
in these countries, wearing the proper shirt or dress is often the key
to either respect and considerate aid, or unwanted attention and
harassment.
More than just clothing - its a
sign of respect
In many of Third World countries, the clothing and actions of the women
are governed by cultural mores and religious beliefs, to an extent that
may seen inexplicable and oppressive to a ‘modern’ American or European
woman. Sometimes, they may even conflict with the beliefs and normal
habits of the traveller. In these circumstances, it is tempting to
disregard the local customs and dress exactly as you would at home. Some
people do. Unfortunately, it’s also dangerous.
Blatantly disregarding or disparaging the local attire is often
considered an indirect way of showing disrespect and disdain to the
local culture and people; and even if this wasn’t the impression you
intended to create, it is nevertheless the one the locals will receive.
In return, they will treat the offender with less respect and sympathy. Also, being
dressed so differently will leave you an obvious target for thieves,
pickpockets, stalkers and other sorts of unwanted attention.
For the
more prudent traveller, the safest and most sensible way is to find a
middle course, where the clothing worn takes into account local customs,
while remaining comfortable, fashionable and easy to wear. Of course, you could go the full nine yards and wear a baju kurung in
Malaysia, a sari in India and a djellaba in Kuwait. Fortunately, in most
countries foreign women aren’t expected to adopt the local attire
completely, but making an effort to blend in goes a long way towards
reducing any unwanted attention or antagonism from the locals. Also,
this gesture of respect for the local culture is usually understood and
appreciated, and often results in better treatment.
General precautions
Each country and culture has its own taboos, which means the traveller
needs to do her own research before getting on the plane. Having said
that, there are a few precautions that apply almost everywhere. The
universal guideline for dressing is: if you’re not sure what the customs
are, cover up. Actually, even if you do know what the customs are, it’s
still safer to keep covered.
This generally means loose, long sleeved
shirts, long skirts or pants. Shorts, short skirts, tight and low cut
blouses are definitely not a good idea and even such innocuous looking
items as camisoles, sleeveless tops and long skirts with high slits are
likely to reduce your respectability level dramatically. Flashy, colourful clothing only attract attention, and are best left at home.
Also, the white tennis shoes and sneakers, beloved of the awful American
Tourist Abroad phenomenon, is considered completely inappropriate in other
countries for anything other than athletic functions. A traveller who
wears them not only marks herself as a foreigner, but may also find that
she is refused entry into the more upscale clubs, restaurants or shops.
As to colour, its best to wear sombre, single-shade clothing, at least
until you get a feel for the local tastes; after that, a little more
prudent experimentation can often result in fashionable outfits without
causing offence.
Jewellery is also a problem: too much expensive
jewellery is an open invitation to thieves, but no jewellery gives a bad
impression, especially in countries like China or India, where you’re
expected to dress up more for dinner. The most practical course is to
wear discreet costume jewellery. A pair of dark sunglasses is also a
good idea. In some countries, eye contact with a man is considered an
invitation, and the easiest way to prevent this is to hide your eyes.
Women in the Middle East
One of the most anxiety-producing regions for a woman traveller is the
Middle East, which is notorious for stories of foreign women being
arrested for wearing
‘indecent’ attire. Of course, this depends on which bit of the Middle
East you’re headed to: Damascus, for example is one of the most modern
of Arab cities, where the locals are as fashion conscious and daring as
in any European city. Riyadh however, is extremely conservative and
extra care is warranted while staying there.
In general, a foreign woman in the Middle East would do well to wear
long everything: shirt, dress, dress and scarf. In some countries —
particularly Saudi Arabia — it is also considered immodest to show your
feet, so closed shoes would be a good idea. In some cities, only
prostitutes or nubile, hip youngsters from the richer families wear
pants, so it’s a good idea to avoid them too. Just because the local
girls get away with it, doesn’t mean a foreign woman will, and its best
not to risk it.
One really good idea for travel in the Middle East is to wear a chador,
an abaya, djellaba or whatever the local version of the eponymous,
all-encompassing cloak is called. Each country has its own style and
contrary to popular belief, they don’t only come in black — in fact,
they can be quite fetching garments, made in all colours and fabrics.
They also have a number of advantages. Since they go over your clothing,
you can wear your bag underneath, where you can access it easily through
the slits in the garment while confounding a thief. If the cloak is not
noticeably new, it also makes you look less of a foreigner, lowering
your chances of being hassled or taken advantage of, as well as
increasing the respect shown to you. And for those worried about being
too hot — well, if the cloak is made of dark, thick material, it’s
really up to you how much you want to wear under it!
Women in South East Asia
Another region where dress-code mix-ups occur frequently is South East
Asia. Because of the hot, humid climate and the popular image of the
region as a beach getaway destination, South East Asia sees a lot of
foreigners walking around in various stages of sweaty undress. Women
strutting around in bikinis (and less) are a common sight on the beaches
in Thailand and Bali, while in less permissive Malaysia and Indonesia a
one-piece swimsuit is more appropriate. In most major cities, most forms
of Western dress are acceptable.
Off the beach and outside the cities however, it would be best to cover
up. Long sleeved cotton shirts, long loose pants or a long skirt are
acceptable, with a scarf usually necessary to enter religious sites.
They are also good for protection against the strong sunlight — though
it seems counterintuitive at first, long loose clothing is better at
keeping you cool than exposing every inch of skin to the sun’s rays.
In most South East Asian countries, the local women cover the legs
completely, either in skirts, long loose pants or the ubiquitous
sarongs. They also wear shirts that cover at least their upper arms
(which in some countries are as erotic as the breasts). Even in Muslim
countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia, foreign women aren’t expected
to cover their hair except at religious sites, but a scarf or hat might
be useful to keep the sun from frying your head. Plunging necklines and
midriff bearing are a no-no (unless you happen to be wearing a sari).
A few more things to consider
If you’re wearing pants, bear in mind that in many Third World countries
it is still considered male attire, and more respect is given to women
wearing skirts. Also, a skirt is far more practical: in Asia, most of
the public toilets are the squatting type and the cultures use water to
clean themselves instead of toilet paper, making skirts more
user-friendly than pants.
One particular point that has to be made is that almost everywhere in
the Third World, foreigner are not only expected to be dressed decently,
but also cleanly. Even in the poorest countries, most people try to keep
themselves as clean as possible and are repulsed by smelly backpackers
from the wealthier nations. And to make things a little more
interesting, foreign woman are expected to dress well. In even the most
rural areas, most local girls do their best to dress fashionably and a
foreign woman who dresses sloppily is seen in a bad light.
These are just a few things to consider when making a trip overseas. Of
course, the absolutely best course of action is to research the country
and culture you’re headed to, leave all your expensive jewellery at
home, and cover up. The increased respect and sympathy you’ll receive
for the trouble is more than worth the slight discomfort of wearing more
cloth than you’d normally wear. |