Women Travellers
Despite the nation's ingrained machismo, sexual harassment is not the problem you might expect in Brazil. Wolf-whistles and horn-tooting are less common than they would be in Spain or Italy, and, while you do see a lot of men cruising, more than you might think aren't looking for women, which spreads what hassle there is more evenly between the sexes for a change. The further north you go, blondes (men as well as women) bring out the stares, but attention which can seem threatening is often no more than curiosity combined with a language barrier. Chances of trouble depend, to an extent, on where you are: the stereotype of free-and-easy cities and of small towns and rural areas that are formal to the point of prudishness often holds good - but not always. Many interior Amazon towns have a frontier feel and a bad, machista atmosphere. Also bear in mind that in any town of any size the area around the Rodoviaria or train station is likely to be a red-light district at night - not somewhere to hang around. The transport terminals themselves, though, are usually policed and fairly safe at all hours. Women travelling  © 2003 by Rough Guides Ltd. as trustee for its Authors. Published by Rough Guides. All rights reserved. Rough Guides name is a trademark of Rough Guides Ltd. Buy the book here!
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alone will arouse curiosity, especially outside the cities, but the fact that you're a crazy foreigner explains why you do it in most Brazilian eyes; it shouldn't make you a target. There is no national women's movement in Brazil, but there are loosely linked organizations in big cities and some university campuses, and a growing awareness of the issues; the more important or accessible groups are listed in the Guide. Mulherio is a national feminist paper.
Your Tips For Brazil
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