If they bother you then just tell them your big 18st beer swilling rugby player husband is up the road.

Just do what you would at home .Do not be put off with stories about always having to fend turkish men off ,very rarely will they be anything but polite and curteous to a woman accompanied by a man.

Bluepeterno1

Yes common sense as at home. Treat people right and if they don't play ball, walk away.

bluepeterno1 wrote:

Just do what you would at home .Do not be put off with stories about always having to fend turkish men off ,very rarely will they be anything but polite and curteous to a woman accompanied by a man.

Bluepeterno1

Very True. Most if not all Turkish men ( young and old) showed and gave the uppermost respect to my wife ( and myself ) while in Marmaris last year.
You will always get a few bad apples from the crop .

We found that its the clothes , shoe shops that can be a little to cheeky and my wife always puts them in their place ,
at 5ft tall with blonde hair , they soon realise that this wee scotish women has a BIGGER BITE than her BARK .

My advice would be ... go with the flow, enjoy yourselfs, and should an unpleasant situation happen, then take chelsea boys advice and tell them you will call the Zabita ( police), and do call them if you need to.

Have a good holiday..... and dont let bad thoughts or perceived images of Turkey rule over your fun in the sun.
But do have a sensible head on at all times.

just a bit like home realy.

ginkster.

Many guys from the eastern Turkey go to southern beaches in summer. Generally speaking eastern Turkey is a very conservative part of Turkey. And because of this nature, there is a weird idea there in eastern Turkey, that european women are sluts who wants to have sex no matter who the guy is.

And not only Europe, many of those people think the same about the females from western Turkey (Istanbul and Izmir). I don't want to be offensive by discriminating people with geography but statistics are statistics. You won't experience these things in high cultured districts of Ä°stanbul or Ä°zmir (also these metropols have some districts where you would never want to go).

Actually Turkish guys are usually kind. The stories being told here are real but these are only a very small and disgusting sample of Turkish men. But they can make all the things quite ugly. I think of them as a dead fly on a very delicious good-looking food. So to keep flies away from your tasty food ignore the words like "you're my sunshine", "you're the most beautiful girl on the planet". They memorize those phrases. Be aware of the fact that they say the same things 1000 times a day to different ladies. Don't be kind. Don't say thank you or don't smile. Those mean "yeah let's have sex." in their language. In fact don't even say anything just get away.

Well you're on a holiday. You may be a single woman and you may want to enjoy a night with a handsome Turkish guy. Try not to flirt with guys coming after you. Do not let the guy choose you. You choose someone and go and talk to him. You will find far better people I assure you. Try to go to night clubs with strict door policies. Many clubs never let those harrasing guys in. Do not flirt with guys on public beaches, if your hotel has a private beach it may be all right but public beaches are full of those people.

Are you Turkish carpediem83 ? You seem to have a lot of specialised knowledge. Welcome to HT see you are a first time poster, always good to have a local on board.

Doe

Hey Doe. Yes I'm Turkish. I was just searching for a hotel review and google brought me here. And after I read a few posts I just wanted to throw some advice. But I think I'll regularly check the topics here if there's anything I can help with.

You can also message me if you have questions about Turkey but I've seen that the questions here are usually about how good a hotel is and that's not something I can help since there are thousands of them in south.

much better if information was on the forum rather than by pm. That way others can gain info too

Not all Turkish men are leeches. However, you'll always have the few lotharios who tell every woman they see how beautiful she is - even if she's is really unattractive. They do it mainly because they want her to leave a big fat tip, and if she's available they'll see how much else they can milk out of her.

Surprisingly enough the unscrupulous men who behave like this probably don't fancy the woman one iota. They just make out they do in the hope she'll start sending him money and gifts. If they meet a woman they really find attractive and really like they treat them with respect, and don't hassle them as they don't want to scare them away.

It's very sad to if you feel nervous about men's unwanted attentions - as I said before - most Turkish men are polite, respectful and friendly. If they meet a man with his wife who they respect they'll usually converse with the man and avoid much eye contact with the woman.

The lothario types will usually only flirt with the women who they think will respond to them. If a woman dresses revealingly, behaves disrespectfully, gets drunk and vulgar, or gives off come hither signals then of course she'll get the wrong kind of attention.

I lived in Turkey for a couple of years, and have been with my Turkish partner for 5. Only ONCE (and that was when I was alone one day on the beach) was I harrassed. And I soon got shot of him. It isn't hard to get rid of someone! But I was never hassled when shopping alone (and NEVER when I was with my partner!) because I never gave off 'available' signals. I never looked at them; allowed them to get into conversation with me - and if one eved did try to call me in to his shop/restaurant I would just ignore him and carry on walking.

I'm sorry to say this but lots of women walk around in very revealing clothes in appropriate places (bikinis in the High Street for example) giggle and blush like a schoolgirl with a crush when they're told they're beautiful by a weedy little Turk who looks not much older than a Boy Scout, and generally lap up all the attention they get. It wouldn't be so tragic if these women were teenagers themselves but many of them are Old Age Pensioners!!

Strawberry

What worries me I am taking my 2 daughters aged 18 and 15 and my daughters friend who is 18, any tips I can give them to stop unwanted attention.

Just what has been said before .Dont make eye contact,dont enter into any conversation ,dont act flirty and if all that fails tell them to get lost ,they will soon get the message .

It is no worse in Turkey than in this country ,young attractive women will always get attention ,it is how you deal with it that counts.

Bluepeterno1

Young pretty girls will get attention from men anywhere in the world but the best thing your daughters can do is ignore anything that is said to them, don't make eye contact and certainly don't flirt in any way, no giggling at silly remarks etc. Knowing what teenagers are like don't suppose they will take much notice of what you say about dress but advise them that ultra mini skirts and low cut tops/ bikini tops along the street are going to be asking for attention. Keep the beachwear for the beach.

If someone doesn't take the hint and starts saying something they don't like then the nest reply is "how would you like it if someone spoke to your sister like that!" . Turkish men are vary family oriented and would hate to think of anyone speaking rudely to their sister so it normally shuts them up.

While your daughters are with you they should be fine though.

here are my thoughts from a ex-pat resident in Antalya for the past 13 years..married to a wonderful turkish man for 19 years now..with 2 children and I have a teenage 15 year old daughter..but again both she and I conduct ourselves in a manner that is appropriate..

You can go most everywhere without concerns. Naturally young women attract attention just as you would in any other place. Just keep walking and don't engage persisent people in conversation and that will do it. Normal caution should be exercised just as you would do in any big city.

Just act like you act at home or when you go somewhere else. There are no differences at all. Anywhere you are planning to go with the group you will meet the friendliness of the Turkish people. Someone you do not comfortable with just send him or her off. Remember that most people who approach you will try to sell, this is their business and as their are hundreds of the same salesmen, they hope you will buy with them so that is why they talk to you to get your attention. A simple smile or a nod is a sign you do not want anything.

Also observe how the turkish women deflect unwanted attention from the turkish males..they completely ignore them..your actions and body language is important..

First of all many tourists come to Antalya and never have any problems with being harassed ..but for those who do one must look at the reason why. Please when travelling toTurkey do be aware of your surroundings and most of all respectful of the country you are in.

The one thing I hate the most is when I am going shopping at a mall or a local shopping district, and witness many tourists ( nationality withheld ) walking around in skimpy white shorts that barely cover the bottom parts and if that is not all bad these shorts or sometimes white pants are totally see-through with thongs hanging out. I personally do not wish to see this.

When a tourist is in their own country does one walk around like this?? I don't think so. I dress the same as I have in the past living in Canada. Have respect for those around you. This does not mean that you have to be totally covered . Just wear respectful attire

Next is the topless or almost nude bathing on public beaches. Think about it. Turkish families come also to the beach and are some what embarassed by this behaviour. Then one asks why are they being harassed. If you are half naked on the beach.. people will look...men and women alike... Also don't walk around the streets in a bikini either slip a tee-shirt on and some shorts... leave the beach wear at the beach!!!

and Kedi and Strawberry7 have both said the same things..

and PS...I would like to also point out I did not meet my husband in Turkey...we meet in the United States over 20 years ago ..and also spent 7 years in Canada before moving permanetly to Turkey..and we are both the same age.

Good onya little turtle ,did not doubt it for a minute.

caretta wrote:

The one thing I hate the most is when I am going shopping at a mall or a local shopping district, and witness many tourists ( nationality withheld ) walking around in skimpy white shorts that barely cover the bottom parts and if that is not all bad these shorts or sometimes white pants are totally see-through with thongs hanging out. I personally do not wish to see this.

When a tourist is in their own country does one walk around like this?? I don't think so. I dress the same as I have in the past living in Canada. Have respect for those around you. This does not mean that you have to be totally covered . Just wear respectful attire

Next is the topless or almost nude bathing on public beaches. Think about it. Turkish families come also to the beach and are some what embarassed by this behaviour. Then one asks why are they being harassed. If you are half naked on the beach.. people will look...men and women alike... Also don't walk around the streets in a bikini either slip a tee-shirt on and some shorts... leave the beach wear at the beach!!!

Why is the Nationality withheld ? If you are having a go at the British or English women why don't you say so. If you are not then perhaps it would be more honest to say that it is not in the main Brits that do this.

I went into many shops in Olu Deniz and Fethyie which are Brit dominated resorts and the amount of British women I saw dressed like this you could count on the fingers of one hand.

As usual its bash the Brits time on the Turkey forum. Odd really as our money is very welcome over there.

Also a lot of these places are purely tourist resorts, not some village up in the mountains, people sometimes wander off the beach into a tourist tat shop to buy an icecream what are they supposed to do put on a burka ?

I think anyone reading this topic who hasn't been to Turkey will be thinking women get harassed all the time on holiday - they don't! I look on most of it as mainly harmless banter, just laugh and walk on. They just leave you alone and don't tend to pursue anyone who makes it clear they're not interested. Yes they will flatter you and give you alot of attention but on the whole I have found them to be really friendly. I have a 15 year old daughter who attracts a fair bit of attention from them but never once have we found ourselves ion a situation that could not be dealt with by just saying No - it's what you would do at home anyway. It only becomes a nuisance if you let it!

I'm sure that as tourists have been visiting the Turkish tourist resorts for many a year, the Turks will have become accustomed to seeing women dressing differently to perhaps how some of the more traditional women do but it's hardly the dark ages in Turkey and I am quite sure the Turkish males can handle seeing tourists dressed in shorts (however short) and bikini tops. It's not as if people are roaming naked around the town. And no we probably don't walk around in our own country wearing clothes like that as we don't have the climate to and thats why we go on holiday to the Turkish resorts which welcome the tourism and the money it generates!

And as for the "near naked sunbathing" which apparently offends Turkish families, I am sure they wouldn't take their kids to beaches if they were so offended. Whilst I don't bathe topless, I don't mind if others do they aren't exactly harming anybody are they - live and let live I say!

I don't think most find topless sunbathing offensive, if it were so much so they would have it banned and I've never met anyone who would flout a law like that. I've been in countries where it is not allowed and I've never seen anyone blatantly ignore it - myself included as I always used to go topless.

As for the men, I found them a tad pushy way back in the 80s and 90s when they weren't so used to tourists and our different demeanours but over recent years have found them very respectful. Teenage daughters of a couple in our hotel last year did get quite a bit of attention but nothing even they couldn't handle at 13/14.

I have had more worrying experiences in Greek islands - I am far more wary of the Greek man (not tarring all with same brush) than I am of the Turk.

I would say though, do joke around with them but remember that they have a different mentality - take things they say with a large pinch of salt, trust your instincts but mainly, don't be distrustful as the vast majority are the most sincere and helpful people you could meet.

I'm with kimi on this one. I've never found a problem with any so-called "harassment" - nothing I wouldn't just class as harmless banter either, and I've felt safer walking around in Turkey, even on my own, than I probably would at home. My teenage daughter feels exactly the same way - she loves Turkey and was quite happy to explore on her own.