Getting harassed in Rome?

Question

My friend is going to Rome and she is very beautiful. She's tall, tan, hourglass figure, with long dark hair and dark eyes. Her mother and father have been reading articles about girls getting harassed in Italy by men. They are very afraid she will be. Also peoples been telling them how friendly the men are. Is this an exaggeration or does it really happen a lot? Oh, and she'll be by herself some of the time.

Answer 1

I haven't been there in about eight years but yes, women do get harassed. Just show some common sense as you would in any big city. For the most part, the "harassment" was more like over-aggressive flirting...grown men acting like teenage boys in front of their friends. It seemed to be mostly playful. If you learn "leave me alone" or a witty insult in Italian, that should work.

This is unverified, but a female friend of mine told me that many Italian and French men have a deep sense of chivalry...so if someone is really bothering you, tell another passing man that you're being harassed. She swears that this has worked several times...the other man, in order to impress you, will confront the harrasser (is that a word?) and during the commotion, you slip away.

No matter the city, be smart, look like you belong and be respectful of local custom.

Answer 2

let's be clear on what exactly harassment is. Just like any beautiful girl in any city in the world, she will be looked at, asked if she wants a drink, some guys will try and chat her up...regardless of what city in the world. If she's interested, they'll continue, if she ignores then they'll go away. Remember Rome sees many models, actresses etc walk it's streets. Tell her not to worry, she'll get the Ciao Bella alot (just means hello beautiful), no one will touch her, pinch her. European men are the same as any men anywhere, if they see a beautiful attractive girl , they'll try and chat her up. Tell her not to worry, I've been many times, the interest is harmless, if anything flattering.

Answer 3

It's an exaggeration, people get harassed everywhere in the world.Italian people are extremely friendly but I would still suggest to be careful and not make it too obvious that she's a tourist and try not to carry too much cash or documents with her. She can leave the important documents and money in a safe at the hotel.
Beautiful women get looked at everywhere in the world it's part of a human reaction!!!!

Answer 4

i don't know if you or your friend should be harassed in rome. i hope not. i hopefully think that this can happen in the same way everywhere in the world but in italy there it's quite diffused to have a boring behaviour with ladies and honestly i found it pretty shameful.

Answer 5

Hmm...she might get pinched although I have been there twice and I never saw I woman get pinched. I'm sure some men will stare and a few will make comments, like Ciao, bella! If she's in the main areas she should be OK for the most part.

Answer 6

I agree with Sistablu, she put it beautifully. I'm female, English & lived in Luxor for 2 years, i never felt safer. Ok, so you will get hassled, but i never heard of any rapes all the time i was there. I would be more scared walking down a street in daylight in England. Your friend is either having a joke with you, or really dosnt know the place he is living in. As to how to dress, just be modest & you'll be ok. Enjoy.

Answer 7

Well, i don't know. But probably this is the true. In Italy live a lot of men who don't know enghlish language and think that a stranger can't call anybody to help him or her if he or she is lonely in some dark place of a big city. All depend from the behaviour of your friend, cause i think this bad men lives in every dark side of the world's cities, especially where live too much strangers.

Answer 8

it is as true as the idea that all black men are great basketball players, just like all southern people eat grits and so on.

She is as likely to get harassed in NY city ( maybe more)

Answer 9

where does she going when she's alone??? i'll harass her if shes that beautiful!!! joke!!! i live in rome but i dont think it will happen to her but be careful to go to dark places when shes alone!!!

Answer 10

yeah it gets pretty bad some times, many of the times its not the italians who do it, but the albanians who look similar to italians but another race. ive had old sick men ask me on the bus for my phone number, guys wistle as i walk by, yell out words. tell her to simply ignore them and if they ever get close, just yell out, 'MA VA FANCULO!!' and theyll be dead surprised to hear a foreigner yell that out, since they excpect them to not know it. 'va fanculo' means 'f u c k you' , saying 'ma va fanculo' its like saying 'just f u c k off will ya!!?'

also if anything ever gets over the border, simply go to the nearest carabinieri or police officer (usually they are around in touristy areas) and tell them the situation and they will actually take action.