Heather, I am so sorry to hear about your experience in Argentina. I have long traveled to Argentina alone to all corners of the country and it quickly became my favorite country in the world. However, when I traveled there the first time with my woman I saw another side. In north America we are quite naive about how women are still not equal citizens in much of the world. Even here there is much room for improvement but unfortunately what you are experiencing is common around the globe. I traveled to India with 2 women and they were constantly harassed, even pinched and groped in public. I had to stay right next to them or they were really harassed. This was similar in Argentina.

Are you in Buenos Aires? It is more civilized there but you will still find some men very domineering. If you have any male friends they will serve as excellent escorts for you. The shame is that you cannot go out alone, free and un-bothered as you should. I commend your enlightened view of culture about the whole thing, I would just get mad.

Well, try and stay in public places, go where other young people hang out, especially other women and don't act afraid. You can try and "toy" or "play" with it with a little of your own attitude but really these men are not culturally impacting you, they are just pigs, so remember that. I think you will find the educated, mature and civilized men behave quite well.

I hope you can get through it as Argentina is an amazing place. It is interesting to hear Argentine Women describe how they put up with it. I will some some my my friends to contact you and see if they have a unique perspective.

Best of luck and be well!
Christopher

Hi Rayanndream,

I've lived in Buenos Aires on and off since '97, and those off times were spent in Mexico City. It still shocks me to see the way that some of the portenos act on the street. The funny thing is, and you'll get a chance to see this if you stay any length of time, is that these same men treat the women in their lives (friends, family, partners, etc) completely differently. It's almost shocking when I hear one of them commenting in the street to a woman they don't even know when I've seen them be so mature in other situations.

I should also write that not all Argentine men act this way. Lots of them would never think of disrespecting a woman. Unfortunately you get to hear the lowest common denominator.

However, the question you raise doesn't have so much to do with those men as with the women who receive the cat calls and how those cat calls should be handled. The best move is to ignore it completely. Any reaction makes it worse and the guy invariably takes it as a backhanded compliment or at least as an invitation to exhibit some machismo. It's sad but true, and difficult for North American women who are used to standing up for themselves. I wish I had a better solution, but that seems to be the most successful move any of my portena friends make. I hope it doesn't ruin your experience, because the verbal abuse is fairly unavoidable.

Meanwhile, I know some civilized and cool folk in town. If you're still around in May (when I get back from my work offshore) I'll be happy to introduce you. I live in San Cristobal, where I'm renovating a rad little casita rosada. Best of luck with your annoyances, and with your time in Argentina.

-chivo del mar

Jaja. I live in La Plata and I understand what you mean, don't be too taken back though becuase not all males are like that!! I think the most important thing is to always stand you ground and make sure they understand that you are in charge of the situation.. I can usally get rid of them with a few choice words. Another good idea is to make friends with some guys who you can count on and will look out for.. keep the rest of the idiots in check!! good luck!!

Hi Rayann,

I will be going to Argentina in April of 2007. I plan to live in Buenos Aires and find a job as a nanny. This is the work that I currently do in Portland, Oregon, so I have the resume for it.
How was your time in Argentina?
I lived in Ecuador and experienced the harassment disguised as compliment. I is so annoying and insulting.
None the less, I am looking forward to being back in South America. What did you do while you were there?
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1Hi1!!!!Is the first time i would write this... Is really really funny,, sorry for my english... is not my main languaje, you know, i actually talk spanish. 1I am a argentinan of 21 years, who was born in buenos aires in 1985!!!!!
1Hahahahahaha... i never thinked that the first page of argentina i will find, will be 1Yanqui... 1Well, i will a explain a little, argentinians here... have the particulary of being extremadily.... i dont know his translations... 1I think the prhase its .... 1"The dog who barks(O screams1) dont bite1"
1We arent only like vthat with the womans... 1We are like that with everyone. 1For example, is not bad calliung someone 1"Hey you, black face1!! 1Have carefull or you will be confused with the shadow1!!" 1Because we wait a response like, 1"Shut up you fucking shit, your mother surely is....1!1!!!" 1In my work, i have friends from, italia, paraguay, bolivia even polonia1! 1I 1If i made jokes of someone because he is from italia and have a extrange acent, and everyone laughts of him, ihe will inmediatly made a joke because my nose is too big, and everyone will laught of me. 1But, if i see this italian man in need of help, i will help him, and he will say me, 1"thank you very much1" 1And will answer... 1"well, obvyously italians man cant do anything for him self,1" and, surely he will answerme. 1"next time try to not stab me with your nose, you let me bleeding1".
1This is the really stupid argentine way... 1I am a really shy person, and in 21 years i have to become accostumed to that.
1And, another thing... 1well... 1The first estereotipe we have about womans, is the 1"femme 1fatale", is a really problem, you are obligated a like that kind of girls, a be really excited about them in fact. 1Is compared even with the tipical actitud of having o not a big penus. 1For that, the more susceptible ones will scream all that things at the womans. 1I don t like that at all... 1I like sensitive, very sweet and a llittle naive girls. 1And always, always, 1ALWAYS makes jokes about that saying than i am gay...
1Conclusion1:1Never take too seriously a argentinian... 1If he talk seriously, you must, obviously talk seriously, but even the oldest men will try to make you a joke. 1For example that italian man than i talk, is a very important friend and co-worker mine and have 65 years old.

I can definately relate to your experience. I was in Buenos Aires for a month last summer (their winter). I looked forward to my trip for months, counting down the days until I got there; however, once I got to Buenos Aires, I couldn't wait to leave. I enjoyed the history, the arts, and the excitement of being abroad, but I couldn't handle the lack of freedom I expereienced. If I took one step out the front door, I had to prepare myself to face harassment. Initially, I was speechless...in shock that any man in broad daylight would say the things I heard to a woman covered dressed conservatively in winter clothes. I wasn't walking the streets at night in a mini-skirt, but I might as well have been. Men with young children, and even police men said things I'd never dreamt of hearing! After the shock wore off, I just got mad.
After awhile, it wears on you and you start to wonder how someone can live an entire lifetime under such demeaning circumstances. It even began overshadow my entire experience. I could be sitting in a cafe minding my own business and some 65 year old porteno would pass by and say dirty pick up lines, as if he were making conversation. Even more surprising was everyone's response. No one aroud us even thought twice.
I've traveled abroad several times and never experienced such conditions. I love the city of Buenos Aires, but I know without a doubt that I could NEVER live there. I don't ever plan on going back...I just don't think that my blood pressure could take it! Despite what locals will tell you, it is agressive behavior, not friendly come-ons. Such blatant disrespect and oppression is enfuriating, and, in my opinion, it's not something that anyone should ever accept.

And the hate!!! People just hating you, because you dont are from his country, or because you dont have thei color, or etceteras, discriminating you...
I think that maybe you dont hear shit, but you brath it, because is in the air, evryone is nice, but in your back they silently scream "ARGENTINIAN GO HOME!!"

Hi, I'm an argentinian man.. I'm sorry to hear of your experience, but it might be that you're overly sensitive about this, just a little bit. Just yesterday I rode a bus and a girl got _very_much_ harrassed by this group of guys, but it's not something I see all the time.

We do get a lot of wizzling to girls, and some of that crap, but really, we're nice guys, for the most part. And as someone said, some of us would never EVER think of doing something like that, as much as we'd like to get the girls attention =P

My advice is: ignore random noises and staring as much as you can, if someone gets dense, ignore some more, or get away. If these are not options, you might not be in the right neighbourhood.

the insight is: I've only realized while I was writing this that there _is_ no solution besides ignoring it, and it sucks. But it's really not as common as you make it sound. Boost your ego a little, just ignore it and admire the city which is simply stounding.

damn, I wish I had a better solution. I'm not saying you're whiny or something, don't misunderstand me. I tried as hard as I could to get the stereotype out of your post, I guess.. we're not all like that. Not even most of us. If you get yourself some friends (preferably male) and go out with them it'll be much better than walking alone, that's for sure