steve392
Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Frances, September 2016
Fisterra, July 2018
I’ve been reading the threads and accounts of women who have had incidents/unwanted attention from men on the Camino and as a man I find it disgusting. It horrifies me that women have to feel on edge whilst walking the Camino and following what in no doubt has been a dream for them. It has also raised a couple of concerns.
I’ll be walking the Camino on my own in Sept 16 and am by no means afraid for my safety. I’m 6’ 2” tall, quite big built with a shaved head and some people would say that I can look quite intimidating. But those who really know me would agree that I am a “gentle giant” (for want of a better phase). I can be quite shy with people who I have just met and certainly am around big groups of people who I don’t know. I certainly try to be a gentleman and be courteous towards women and would be the first to intervene if I see a woman in trouble.
My concern comes when I think that I may (and probably will) come across a women walking alone on the Camino with no one else around. If I am aware that some women have been having some problems, how do I know that I can greet them without fear of upsetting them, causing alarm or making them feel uncomfortable? This is the last thing that I would want to do. Also, how can I put their mind at ease and deal with the situation if I do unintentionally upset them? After all they won’t know me at all.
I would hate to think that I would negatively affect anyone’s Camino, woman or man, in anyway at all and wouldn’t be happy with myself if I did.
Am I being a little over cautious or do I have a genuine concern? I’d be grateful for your thoughts and honest opinions.
Cheers
Steve
I’ll be walking the Camino on my own in Sept 16 and am by no means afraid for my safety. I’m 6’ 2” tall, quite big built with a shaved head and some people would say that I can look quite intimidating. But those who really know me would agree that I am a “gentle giant” (for want of a better phase). I can be quite shy with people who I have just met and certainly am around big groups of people who I don’t know. I certainly try to be a gentleman and be courteous towards women and would be the first to intervene if I see a woman in trouble.
My concern comes when I think that I may (and probably will) come across a women walking alone on the Camino with no one else around. If I am aware that some women have been having some problems, how do I know that I can greet them without fear of upsetting them, causing alarm or making them feel uncomfortable? This is the last thing that I would want to do. Also, how can I put their mind at ease and deal with the situation if I do unintentionally upset them? After all they won’t know me at all.
I would hate to think that I would negatively affect anyone’s Camino, woman or man, in anyway at all and wouldn’t be happy with myself if I did.
Am I being a little over cautious or do I have a genuine concern? I’d be grateful for your thoughts and honest opinions.
Cheers
Steve