New travel guide for women

The new travel guide “Her Own Way — A Women’s Safe-travel Guide,” was recently issued by Foreign Affairs Canada. The guide includes a variety of safety tips for the female traveller, and highlights the importance of knowing the laws and customs of a destination country, particularly those pertaining to women’s rights, dress, premarital sex, homosexual relationships and drinking.

The guide notes the heightened danger Canadian women can encounter: “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.”

It also recommends that women draw up their own risk assessment based on health conditions, safety and security, political and economic factors, local laws, customs and cultural norms. Women need to be aware that many activities — such as wearing a bikini or having premarital sex — that are legal in Canada aren’t always so in foreign countries.

And the guide has advice geared to single women: wear a (fake) wedding ring and carry around a photo of your (fake) husband to avoid unwanted advances.

Some may think this borders on overcautious, but you can never be too safe. NDP MP Jenny Sims, deputy critic of Foriegn Affairs told the Star her reaction to the wedding ring suggestion: “Every step we take to protect women is good … but I must admit I had a bit of a giggle as well.”

Here are more highlights from the guide:

• “Check to see if there’s a Travel Warning in effect for your destination and obtain information on safety and security, local laws and customs, health conditions, and entry requirements.”