Women may experience some particular difficulties while abroad. Despite the fact that the rate of violence towards women, including rape, is higher in the U.S. than in many other countries, facing the unfamiliar can raise your anxiety level. This is compounded by language and cultural differences. American women have a reputation for enjoying a lifestyle which contrasts with more traditional behavior in many countries. This image is reinforced by distorted stereotypes used in TV, movies, and advertising.
Cultural differences extend to body language.
U.S. students may encounter people who do not understand that their familiar way with strangers is a gesture of friendship. A smile, a hairstyle, the way you carry yourself, eye contact, the distance between people talking can have profoundly different interpretations from culture to culture. Even a smile to a stranger may be misunderstood. You are your own best resource in preparing to face a range of possible situations, from sexual comments or harassment, to the rare extreme of a physically threatening situation. Before leaving, take the time and initiative to learn as much as possible about your host country's language, religion, customs, and appropriate dress for women.