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[[File:Parnu-riga.jpg|thumb|left|200px|[[amylinUser:Amylin|Amylin]] hitching to [[Riga]] in the snow]]

Do not forget that being For '''women''', hitchhiking seems to be more risky. Hitchhiking as a woman you are firstly a human being and you have the same rights than malescan be easier though.You have a right to be respected and it is not true that while hitchhiking you expose yourself Often, women stop for a risk on your own wishother women or girls.----------Even families (or other usual-not-hitch-hiker-friendly car owners) stop to "save" women from a situation in which they think she could be in "danger".

For '''women''', hitchhiking seems to be more risky. But it is Do not really. Many men forget that being a woman you are reporting firstly a human being and you have the same degree of violation rights as womenmales. If most reported cases of murder or rape of hitchhikers involve women hitchhiking alone, You have a right to be respected and it is because men are less likely not true that while hitchhiking you expose yourself to report rapes (as a product of homophobia in the world), and murders are not getting the label of "hitch-hiking-murders" as often with male victimsrisk at your own wish. <!--- I think we should link to [[Pippa]] here :( ~~~~ -->

Hitchhiking as a woman can be easier though. Often, women stop == Safety tips for other female hitchhikers ==Whatever statistics are concerning violence to women or girls. Even families (or other usualthough when it comes to hitchhiking, they're low -not-hitchthe German Bundeskriminalamt (Federal Police) estimates the chance of a failed attempt at rape at 1-hiker-friendly car owners) stop to "save" women from 2 out of 10.000 and the chance of a situation in which they think she could be in "dangersuccessful". As a product rape at 1 out of sexism in the society many people think that women are more safe to take up as hitch hikers10. And000 lifts), possibly as a result of sexism there are some things you can do in the society, women tend order to be more safe to take up as hitch hikers.--------------avoid/go out from difficult situations

==Some precaution you can take as a women hitchhiker= Choose your driver ===Whatever statistics There are concerning violence many different ways to get a ride from staying on the side of the road to asking directly to people at [[petrol station hitchhiking|petrol stations]]. It could be better to ask people because you can then have a feeling of who is driving. It is of course difficult to womenknow what kind of person someone could be just from how they look, there are some things but that first contact may compel you can do in order to avoid/go out from difficult situationsguys who already have macho or strange behavior towards you.If you want to or have to stay on the edge of the road, your attitude will of course attract different people. The 'positive attitude' thing is important but be aware of what you may suggest when standing and smiling. Body language is really important. I have a friend who almost got raped when hitchhiking in Europe for the first time. I hitched with her a few months later and understood then how this may have happened. She was standing on a half highway road without sign indicating her direction and with a huge smile, a slightly denuded t-shirt and a suggestive attitude. I am not saying we should all wear burka when hitchhiking, some people also use their charm and flirt a little bit with people without any problems. It is just a matter of being aware of how we do it.

===choose your driver===There are many different ways to get a ride from staying on Also the side of car sometimes tells about the road to owner. I am personally more careful when asking directly to people at petrol stations. For example, I personnaly like better to ask to people because you flatly turned down a car with a big sound installation and loud music since this can then have show that the driver gives a feeling lot of who is drivingimportance (and money) into appearance, and probably likes to be seen and to impress. It is of course difficult to know what kind of people could not rare that their car is also a person be just from the look but the first contact when asking them may let you avoid guys who already have matcho or strange behaviour towards you.If you want or have tool to stay on the edge of the road, your attitude will of course attract differently flirt and different peopleimpress girls. The 'positive attitude' thing This is important but be aware of what you may suggest when standing just an example and smiling. Body language there is really importantof course no generality. I have a friend who almost got raped when hitch hiking in Europe for the often met really nice people, which at first time. glance I hitched with her a few month later and understood then how things may have happened wouldn't think of as I saw her standing on a half highway road without sign indicating her direction thought there would be an interchange short further with 4 different directions, with a hughe smile, a slightly denuded t-shirt and a suggestive attitudesympathetic. I am not saying we should all wear burka when hitch-hiking, some people also use their charm Just follow your feeling and flirt '''don't hesitate to refuse a little bit with people without any problems. It is just a matter of being aware of what and how we do ride if you don't feel like it.'''!

Also [[User:Marymary|Marymary]] ([[User talk:Marymary|talk]]) 21:54, 19 June 2014 (CEST) says: I didn't write the car of the people sometimes tell also about their owner. above, but I am personnally more careful when asking for example fatly tuned car 'll chime in with my advice: truck drivers seem to be really held accountable with big sound installation where they are, and loud music played since this can show that they have to regularly get various parts of the driver gives truck maintained and pass through checkpoints. And trucks are heavy, so if a lot guy wanted to murder you he'd have to pull over in the middle of importance (nowhere. In general I feel extremely safe with truckers and hitch from truck stop to truck stop only. They are all given money) into appearance, for food and likes probably to be seenshowers from their companies, to impress and it is not rare that their car is also a tool to flirt are generally very generous and impress girlsgentlemanly. This is just an example and there is of course no generalityI would advise this over getting in cars with random guys. I did meet some skeezy truckers who could have often met really nice peoplebeen dangerous, but using common sense (that is, which at first glance I wouldndon't think of as sympatheticengage anyone who makes you feel weird) avoided problems. Just follow your feeling and 'And don't get in a vehicle with more than one guy; that's asking for trouble. I work in the adult industry and even we don't hesitate allow ourselves to refuse a ride be alone with more than one guy if you don't feel like we can help it because it's too dangerous. Some people will do all kinds of messed up stuff if they're high on bro spirit (see: A Clockwork Orange). Don'!t do it.

===listen Listen to your yourself / set up some [[hitchhiker's safety|safety ]] rules==='''Set up some rules for yourself''' before begining to hitch hike. I personnaly personally have this one that if I happen to think/feel something is strange with somebody, I refuse the ride or ask to be dropped as soon as possible, even in the middle of nowhere. This is also valid for your security whith some drivers driving like crazy or really fast because they usually do so or because they want to show you how fast is their Audy Audi TTis. It may be better to spend an extra night in the middle of nowhere (which can actually be really nice) than begin being raped or smashed in a car accident.

===protect Protect yourself===Finally take something with you to defend yourself in case of trouble. A knive can often be enough to dissuade your agressor. There are also pepper sprays you can find in some specialized shops, thought difficult to use in closed spaces. Take care, in some country it is illegal to use it against people or to use it at all... Having a mobile phone and knowing the important number (police, friends, ...) may be useful. You can also set up your own safety rules as for example always take your bag at your feet if it is not too big, in case you have to leave fast, etc...

First and foremost, be assertive. If you are a solo female and choose to accept rides from single or multiple men (which many people say is a big no-no, although many single women do it) you need to be paying attention to how they act and be able to steer the conversation how you want it to go. Don't let them drive the conversation towards sex, partying or dating. If they insist tell them about your fiance - you know, the 250lbs professional boxer you are on your way to visit. They may try to see how easily intimidated you are, "Aren't you scared out here all by yourself, (a pretty girl like you)? Don't you know there are bad people around?" Of course many people will ask you variations of this without ill-intention, but sticking to a general answer along the lines of "yes I know there are bad people, but I believe that there are more good people than bad out there. Many people go out of their way to help me, like ''you''". This invokes guilt if they had bad thoughts, and gives them an honourable way out. You could also mention something meant to be slightly intimidating, but this may be taken as a challenge and work to your disadvantage. There is a story of a nun who hitchhiked around the United States for many, many years without ever running into any trouble. Her "secret" was that whenever she got into a car, the first thing she said to the driver was: "Thank you so much for picking me up! There is so many crazy, dangerous people out there that I feel I'm really lucky to be picked up by somebody as trustworthy as you are!" -- or something along those lines. People generally seem to find it hard to "disappoint" a trust that has so obviously been placed in them. Here are other preventative techniques that can be used:* Having a mobile phone and knowing the important numbers (police, friends, etc) may be useful. Have an emergency code word with a family member so that you do not set off alarm bells with a potential aggressor (this may tempt him to take immediate action against you).* Keep your bag at your feet if it is not too big, in case you have to leave quickly.* Some people send a text message to a friend with the license plate number of cars they are about to get into. Always ask the driver first, if they object then don't get in their vehicle. Make sure you tell them it is only a safety precaution you take with all drivers, so that they do not feel you don't trust them (after all, they are trusting ''you'' by letting you into their car. ==== Action ==== If prevention has failed and you find yourself in a situation where you are almost certain you are in danger, it is time to take action. Do not wait. Your chances of escape go down significantly once he has taken you to a back road or isolated area. If you start feeling uncomfortable while on a main road or in a populated area, get out then. Make an excuse to stop: washroom ("that time of the month!"), private phone call etc, and then simply take your stuff and leave. Or jump out at a traffic light or at low enough speeds (see [http://www.wikihow.com/Jump-from-a-Moving-Car/ WikiHow: Jumping out of a moving car]. Better to be safe than sorry. Here are some other self-defence ideas: * Knife: keep it on your body and accessible, but hidden. A belt or bra-strap are good locations. It may be enough to dissuade your aggressor, but beware that if you don't know how to use it, it may end up being taken and used against you (this is far too common).* There are [[pepper spray]]s you can find in some specialized shops, thought difficult to use in closed spaces. Take care, in some countries it is illegal to use pepper spray against people (or to use it at all). * Remember that as the passenger, you ultimately have a lot of control - after all, the driver has to drive. If you have asked the driver to stop and he refuses, or becomes aggressive, be ready to take action. Know where the door handle,lock and window mechanism are (in some vehicles this may be more complicated than one would think). Opening the door while the car is in motion will draw attention, but remember at high speeds this is difficult due to wind resistance. Flailing your arms out the window also draws attention. Pulling the parking break can be the best resort at high speeds. Hopefully he be forced to slow down enough for you to [http://www.wikihow.com/Jump-from-a-Moving-Car jump out]. <p>Pulling out an ignition key and holding outside open window in a moving vehicle can be very effective if successful - guessing which car design allows that is quite hard. ('''Note''': It can also engage the steering lock and disable the power steering and/or power brakes and as such may do more harm than good! [[User:Prino|Prino]] ([[User talk:Prino|talk]]) 10:14, 23 July 2013 (CEST)) We all hope to never be in a situation where such extreme actions are needed, but if such a situation arises, resolve and confidence in your chosen course of action is key. == Further reading ==* '''You can find a specific guide about women hitchhiking at [http://girls.hitchbase.com / girls.hitchbase.com]!'''* A scientific article about [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20178293 Hitchhiking women's hair color]* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnUBD18tMXM Anick-Marie Bouchard - Women travelling alone - Part I], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ys7bi7KGl_A II], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G73vEAQCnMQ III].* [http://youarealltourists.blogspot.fr/2008/04/hitchhiking-guide-to-turkey-for-girls.html Safety Hitchhiking Guide to Turkey (for Girls)]* [http://youarealltourists.blogspot.fr/search/label/female%20solo%20travel Stories about female solo hitchhiking blended with feminist theory] * [https://www.facebook.com/groups/807483619304081/ Facebook group: Feminist Explorers (feminism for travellers, nomads, and backpackers)]* [[:File:Hitchhiking - Neo-nomad.pdf|Hitchhiking - How-to zine written by a woman]]* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/hitchgathering/permalink/1080094235337475/ Discussion on FB group "Hitchgathering" about women and long distance hitching]* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/hitchgathering/permalink/1732747433405482/ Discussion on FB group "Hitchgathering" about women hitchhiking] * [http://endlesscreatures.blogspot.com/2015/06/highway-kingdom-why-yes.html Tips for solo women hitchhiking]* [http://youarealltourists.blogspot.de/2015/08/hitching-tips-for-women.html Hitching tips for women] by ''The Tourist Of Soft-Porn, Sheikhs and Dunes''* [http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxfCLJZtboY YouTube guide sharing practical tips on how to hitchhike safely as a girl]