After spending much of 2006 in a medieval Italian town of 50,000 people, I've had to revert back to an American mentality, especially regarding safety. Eugene is far from a "dangerous city," but I still take precautions.
I don't make late-night treks to campus. I constantly look over my shoulder when walking in a parking lot after dark. After 8 o'clock, I don't set off on the three-block journey to the grocery store without a friend.
These are things I would have done in Italy without thinking, even during the early-morning hours after a little too much vino. As I walked through the city gates en route to my apartment, my biggest worry was a man telling me I was "molto bella" from across the street. Even in Florence, Siena's larger metropolitan stepsister, the most violating experience was with an aging artist who attempted to woo me into being one of his drawing subjects by complimenting on my "spaghetti hair." At least I think it was a compliment.
But in other parts of the world, women have to be cognizant of their safety while traveling alone. The Marriott in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is addressing this concern by providing women with the option of a "women's-only floor" with added security and frills like fresh flowers and updated toiletries. People are responding, mostly positively, and so is the hotel's PR team.
Some people have a real problem with this concept. Some are using the "if we do this, what will be next?" argument. "What's next, a men's-only floor?" "Is that an example of equal rights or segregation?" And, as always, once the term "segregation" is used, someone has to make it a racial issue, even if we're just talking about males and females. I particularly giggled at Gloria Allred's "whites-only floor for Ku Klux Klan members" comment on a Today show segment, which is outlandish and far-fetched at best.
It seems that most responders to the segment (women), embrace the idea of a women's-only floor. They also seem to enjoy the idea of a women's-only lounge, where they can have a drink without being hit on by sleazy men lurking in hotel bars.
Because I probably don't put enough thought into my own safety and generally think I can take care of myself (however foolish or illogical), I probably wouldn't pay the extra $30 to stay on a women's-only floor. But if it brings peace of mind to single female travelers who are worried about their safety, let them have it. At least until their only worry while traveling in the U.S. is a friendly "molto bella."
I don't make late-night treks to campus. I constantly look over my shoulder when walking in a parking lot after dark. After 8 o'clock, I don't set off on the three-block journey to the grocery store without a friend.
These are things I would have done in Italy without thinking, even during the early-morning hours after a little too much vino. As I walked through the city gates en route to my apartment, my biggest worry was a man telling me I was "molto bella" from across the street. Even in Florence, Siena's larger metropolitan stepsister, the most violating experience was with an aging artist who attempted to woo me into being one of his drawing subjects by complimenting on my "spaghetti hair." At least I think it was a compliment.
But in other parts of the world, women have to be cognizant of their safety while traveling alone. The Marriott in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is addressing this concern by providing women with the option of a "women's-only floor" with added security and frills like fresh flowers and updated toiletries. People are responding, mostly positively, and so is the hotel's PR team.
Some people have a real problem with this concept. Some are using the "if we do this, what will be next?" argument. "What's next, a men's-only floor?" "Is that an example of equal rights or segregation?" And, as always, once the term "segregation" is used, someone has to make it a racial issue, even if we're just talking about males and females. I particularly giggled at Gloria Allred's "whites-only floor for Ku Klux Klan members" comment on a Today show segment, which is outlandish and far-fetched at best.
It seems that most responders to the segment (women), embrace the idea of a women's-only floor. They also seem to enjoy the idea of a women's-only lounge, where they can have a drink without being hit on by sleazy men lurking in hotel bars.
Because I probably don't put enough thought into my own safety and generally think I can take care of myself (however foolish or illogical), I probably wouldn't pay the extra $30 to stay on a women's-only floor. But if it brings peace of mind to single female travelers who are worried about their safety, let them have it. At least until their only worry while traveling in the U.S. is a friendly "molto bella."
