Harassment Overview

We define sexual harassment as any unwelcome physical or verbal sexual advance designed to intimidate, harm, or belittle another person.  It is a very real problem in the West, but legislation and preventative measures have helped raise awareness.  As you travel abroad to many medical tourism destinations, however, you might discover that legal protection is almost non-existent and societal definitions of sexual harassment vary considerably. 

Although most medical tourism countries are extremely safe for foreign travelers, all it takes is one isolated incident to make you think otherwise.  To complicate matters, there are many cultures around the world where Westernized notions of gender equality and personal boundaries have yet to take root.  Despite globalization and modernization, numerous countries in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East still regard women as second class citizens.  

How & Why We Have Designed This Section

In writing this section on harassment, we wanted to offer the most conservative approaches for safety and security.  And thus, we have written this guide specifically for women traveling to those male-dominated countries where gender inequality is the most rampant.  We fully acknowledge that sexual harassment can take place anywhere at any time.  And we also recognize that many African, Middle Eastern, and Asian countries hold women in the highest esteem.  But in order to provide you with the most insight, we have decided to focus our attention on those situations that deserve the most caution and awareness.  You can always scale down our tips as necessary.