Diamonds are a girl’s best friend... When travelling alone. A new Foreign Affairs Canada travel guide suggests single Canadian women should ‘put a ring on it’ when flying solo.
Released by the government ministry earlier this month, a new safe-travel guide entitled, “Her Own Way – A Woman’s Safe-travel Guide,” includes tips designed to keep women protected when abroad alone. But the biggest threat to a woman’s safety lies in – gulp! – appearing unmarried.
“Wear a (fake) wedding ring,” says the guide, under the ‘Avoiding Sexual Harassment’ heading. “Also carry a photo of your husband (or an imaginary one), which you can show to persistent suitors. Being seen as married will lower your profile and stave off uninvited advances.”
According to Foreign Affairs Canada, criminals, both male and female, are more likely to target single female travellers as they appear most vulnerable.
Anti-feminist? Maybe. But, it's not "not" wrong. The guide may seem farfetched and paranoid; as if it were drafted by frantic parents who had seen Taken or Brokedown Palace one time too many, yet its intention is to curb Canadian naivety about civil rights and liberties. While Canadian women can travel independently and act as they please on home turf, these privileges are rarely cloned abroad.
In an effort to protect Canadians from predators, theft and harm, the guide also explicitly warns women of the dangers of trusting foreign strangers; even romantically.
“The truth is that women face greater obstacles (than men) when travelling alone,” says the guide, which was partly drafted by Consular Services.
The overall message is to be wary of whom you trust, avoid commanding too much attention, brush up on the country’s legal code for women, and respect the proper customs of respect and modesty. In other words, if the situation requires it, cover up, or skip that last glass of wine.
Yet, an international travel ‘disguise’ to thwart wrongdoing is not a new concept for women.
In 2001, MSNBC reporter Ashleigh Banfield dyed her naturally blonde hair brown, and cut it short, to avoid detection and unwanted attention while reporting in Pakistan. This was parodied by then-Weekend Update anchor, Tina Fey, on Saturday Night Live.
However, this freshly-codified handbook, which, suggests, like Banfield, for blondes to cover their hair, outlines possible dangers that are associated with standing out for the wrong reasons.
“Partly due to the widespread misconception that Western women are flirtatious and promiscuous, a Canadian female may be seen as fair game, particularly if she looks different from the local women and is travelling alone,” the guide says.
These safety tips present a severe approach some Canadians believe to be a step backwards for women's rights, but these white lies also have tangible safety benefits. Sexist or not, this may provide a special occasion to show off some 'bling' while staying alert, and staying safe.
____
Joanna Adams writes for Toronto Standard. Follow her on Twitter at @nowstarringTO.
For more, follow us on Twitter at @TorontoStandard and subscribe to our newsletter.
Social