More male backpackers are mugged, than female backpackers. Does this surprise you? In your opinion, why are male backpackers more likely to be mugged? Have you been mugged, while travelling?
Male backpackers are more likely to be mugged than females.
7%!o(MISSING)f male backpackers have been mugged, versus 2%!o(MISSING)f females.
Likewise, 12%!o(MISSING)f male respondents have been victims of theft, versus 11%!o(MISSING)f females.
12%!o(MISSING)f males have been victims of theft compared to 11%!o(MISSING)f females.
one-in-eight-young-backpackers-has-been-a-victim-of-theft
Reply to this hmmmm
Think, in my country, these information is absolutely opposite
Reply to this Mel,
These are interesting statistics.
After considering these facts I am not surprised.
--- I think women have an acute awareness of those around them. From a young age we are taught to be safe, not go places alone or at night. The women I have been around are very careful about keeping valuables with them and out of sight.
MJ
Reply to this most men don't give a care with people around them. and that's the result
Reply to this In all honesty, I am not trying to get into a feminist discussion here so as a disclosure I will say I believe women including myself are capable, intuitive, strong, and adventurous but that does not change how others see us..especially in male dominated countries.
From my experience, when I was in distress whether it be because I was lost or confused, many came to my aide I believe out of a nurturing hospitality. When people see a male traveler, they may consider him associate him with strength and independence, and perhaps having more ability to take care of himself. Seeing a woman traveler, there is a sort of protective nature to at least my interaction with others. When you ask for directions to the train station, people will walk you there. Stuck and can not translate your needs? How can they help?
I have had this interaction not only with men, but also women native to the host country I am visiting and other women travelers. The owner of the bar I worked at insisted on taking me to the doctor when I was sick with "Ios Cough" (aka working for ten hours in a smokey bar every night, drinking everyday, not getting enough sleep and only eating nutella, bread and pasta..) to get me medication. The mother I stayed with in Morocco resewing my pack with out me asking, not letting me out of her sight, pulling me close to her linking arms in the markets. The sister of a family I met in Argentina who invited me to a birthday party in Pilar standing up for me when one of the party guests began to berade me with insults because he knew more about American football than someone (me) who is from there.
They want to ensure you are ok.
This doesn't mean women evade muggings. If anything, muggings and rape/attempted rape do unfortunately happen and we need to be aware and cautious.
I can't speak for other travelers, and I am sure men are shown incredible hospitality, but this statistic in my opinion may very well be the result of what seems like empathetic gestures toward Darwinian standards. They help how they can when they see a deer in the head lights, more aggressive about helping the weaker as opposed to the stronger because in picking victims, offenders will look for what is easy and what will be a less than equal fight.
Reply to this Id have to agree with Gabrielle and Merry Jo...and add in Alcohol. Young guys especially seem to think they are bulletproof when drunk...females travelling alone know if they get legless drunk they are a much softer target so I think perhaps females indulge in less risk intensive drinking and partying while on the road.
I have also experienced the bonding of women business owners and locals taking me under their wing on many occasions.
I know ive harped on about the dangers of Papua New Guinea in oceana forum threads but an interesting phenomenom is starting to occur there. As a country with one of the worlds highest rape rates an emerging trend has sprung up..women roaming armed and raping men. YES...Last week 10 women armed with knives attacked and raped a 17 year old village boy. The same week a group of 4 young aussies on a surfing trip were kidnapped and the girl raped repeatedly (by raskol men) while her companions were tied to trees and robbed of all their possessions (by women). Is this women in gangs a strange tide turning?
I think there is also an element of the personality type common amongst women who travel alone...perhaps we are braver (?) than other women who are scared to set out alone and thus give off less body language which may lead potential attackers to see us as especially vulnerable?
Reply to this I think it has a lot to do with cultural awareness and a much better ability to adapt to cultures quicker than their male counterparts. I've lived and travelled in many places throughout the world and from my own experiences, this seems to be the case more times than not.
Throw alcohol in to the equation and i think you have another reason why this is the case!
Reply to this Often stastistics seem counter-intuitive until you start thinking about it.
For instance, you might think people who visited the doctor regularly would be healthier than those who don't, but in fact it's the reverse. The doctors don't make them more sick; they're just more sick in the first place, so they have to go to the doctor's more often.
In this case we seem to have a parallel with why women drivers have far less accidents: it's because they take far less risks.
Exactly because the women are (probably rightly) more afraid of being mugged, they don't put themselves in risky positions in the first place. The men rush right in where angels fear to tread and, hey presto, there goes your wallet and passport.
And then there's always the possibility that some of the 7% might have been just pulling an insurance scam...
Reply to this maybe a mugger feels like a jerk mugging a woman? or he thinks a man would have more cash? i don't know, but I'm very attentive to my surroundings so I don't really think that saying "women can adapt to cultures quicker" or "most men don't give a care about what's around them" are fair statements at all. There's a good share of women who are just as ditzy as there are men who get drunk and party. both groups are equally susceptible.
not to mention the article is a poll taken from only British backpackers :P
Reply to this Traveling has changed in the past 10 years and when somebody appears to aproach you and looks friendly - maybe they are not! Europe is not friendly like it used to be,I am just reading a great book during my travel a true story about Cyprus island- not exactly" island of beauty and love" in 21st century, women that travel alone also men should read this "Aphrodite never left Cyprus" by Publishamerica.com. It happened just 2 years ago quite shocking!
Reply to this I believe it's all about attention. Woman usually more sensitive to touches.
Reply to this Well between Diana and I when we are on the road she is way more cautious about our belongings.. Checking where our cash, passport and other valuables are on a constant base.. At times as a male it gets frustrating when covering your ego and say 'yes i am sure it is safe' and double checking when she is not looking 😉 but it may have helped us any amount of times whilst on the road.
From my experiance when i am travelling alone i tent not to think enough about where I am going and take more risks then when I have my better half with me.
Reply to this LOL Christopher you two sound the exact opposite of my partner and myself.....I leave for airports with a wetsuit and a passport he packs for every contingency, we headed up to darwin a couple of days ago and I did my usual and was actually glad to find the male "protector" side of him had stuffed a few pairs of jeans and tshirts in his bag for me. Thanks for your post, im going to try and see it from his viewpoint a bit now and not tell him off for being an old nanna. :-)
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