Over the years I have travelled to many far flung places on business and in many of them I have tried to blend in so as not to become a target and frankly just to be left alone.
In Yemen, I first realised (to some extent) how women must feel, as being a 6foot tall well fed westerner I stood out like a sore thumb and was VERY aware of being stared at. Nothing nasty, just curiosity, although you would get poked in the ribs every so often by an AK40 or kalsnikov machine gun by a 14 year old who wanted to talk to you.
In Russia - Siberia in fact, I did not want to stand out as a target to theft or worse and so wore old dark clothes and had well worn luggage etc.
Sudan was another country where the poverty was so bad, there was definitely a case for dressing down, but only because I felt bad pushing my (relative) wealth in their face.
When I was in Sharm recently and going up and down the road in the local minibus taxis, I found that I drew less attention wearing long trousers rather than shorts, and a normal shirt, rather than some branded item that we were so much in England. I felt that I didn't stand out so much and that I was left to get on with it.
Again in Sharm, you would see girls on holiday walking along the road in next to nothing, beachwear, very low cut tops etc. and attracting a lot of attention.
we have got used to this in the west and perhaps realise that it's not meant to (necessarily) draw attention, but I don't think Egyptian men have any idea other than "why would you dress like that if you don't want the attention?"
This is of course the worst thing you can say at home, women say they dress for themselves and that's fine but there is quite a different mental attitude to contend with in Egypt.
So really I can only agree with what others have said and that is to dress with consideration of the local culture when out and about.
I do think that overseas travel has become less interesting as each Country becomes more like each other and that is part of the beauty of Egypt for me - it is still a very different place to travel.
The rights and wrongs don't really come into it, if you don't want to get hassled, dress considerately adn you will be well respected 99% of the time.
Iain
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