Job Discussion Forums

greent · Joined: 13 Sep 2004 Posts: 40 Location: HCMC, Vietnam

hi all. i'm considering teaching in Istanbul, but have heard it can be a pretty harrassive place for single white girls... How bad is it really? Thanks...

31 · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 1797

Yeah but for married black men it is great.

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

^ I'm sure the girls can give more constructive advice.

molly farquharson · Joined: 16 Jun 2004 Posts: 839 Location: istanbul

I'm a woman, not a girl, but here is my perspective. Men here stare openly, as do women and children. Where I come from it's rude, but here it is normal. Another poster commented on how if you make eye contact with a man, he will think you want him. That is partly true, as a lot of Turkish men have big egos (how many taxi drivers have proposed marriage within 5 minutes!). We had a very attractive black teacher who had her butt grabbed a few times and it happens on the crowded tramway too. However, that happens in Japan, too. You learn to walk looking at people but not making the eye contact, or making it in passing. Mostlyyou need to watch where you are walking anyway. You learn to adapt your behaviour in this, as in most other things here. Don't let the fear of being harrassed prevent you from coming here, as most other parts of life here are very good.

The other side of the coin is that if you need help, most Turkish men (and women) will come to your aid. Turkish men are polite and somewhat chivalrous, much more than N American men, and probably Brits (I know someone will correct me on this Twisted Evil

)

31 · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 1797

molly farquharson · Joined: 16 Jun 2004 Posts: 839 Location: istanbul

no, she received a public posting. get off the boat and give it a rest, 31.

31 · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 1797

No need I have PMed her and warned her about ET and its practices.

NMB · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Posts: 84 Location: France

It isn't that bad. The biggest annoyance is the constant staring. I experienced butt-grabbing, skirt being pulled up, and hair being pulled, but as disrespectful as they were, these were very isolated occurrences. They also all happened on Istiklal, so I grew to hate that street. You may need to adjust to a modest style. Turkish women often wear next to nothing (especially during summer), but it seems a foreign woman can't as easily get away with this. I wasn't only foreign but black, so I had a double damn. As a white woman, you may be able to blend in a bit better.

There isn't serious harassment, and any incident you may face doesn't happen often enough to let it prevent you from going to Istanbul.

molly farquharson · Joined: 16 Jun 2004 Posts: 839 Location: istanbul

why would you need to pm her, 31, when your rants are all public? if she wants to come to istanbul, that is her choice, and if she wants to work at ET, that is also her choice. Of the language schools, it is one of the best, so "warning" her is meaningless.

31 · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 1797

She won't be working at ET.

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

31, as you seem to be the expert on everywhere in Istanbul. There is a job going at a school in zekeriykoy(international school) Can you share your knowledge and let us know the pros and cons of this place.

31 · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 1797

Neither of us have Qualified Teacher Status in the UK and are unlikely to be employed in an International School as you know.

Ask me about modal verbs.

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

Then why was I offered the job? There are rules, but as you know this is Turkey. Rules and laws are made to be broken. You know the arabic term 'wasta'? it exists here in Turkey.

tekirdag · Joined: 13 Jul 2005 Posts: 505

I agree that instances of harrassment are isolated, but that they happen at all annoys me. Turkish men do stare, but I haven't found that women and children stare. Anyhow, I guess that staring isn't so much a problem and mostly what Turkish men do is cat calls and the like. But it is all oppression and doesn't feel very nice.

And it all depends on how "not Turkish you look". Blond haired Turkish ladies also harrassed.

Being grabbed or touched can be quite upsetting. I was grabbed from behind at night once and I really thought I was done for. I screamed my head off but no one helped me at all. After a while he let go and ran off.

I think a western woman in Istanbul needs to take certain precautions as one would in any big city-Try not to walk alone at night, keep a cell phone with you at all times. But for Istanbul also... Learn enough Turkish to direct your taxi to your door and dress conservatively, don't make eye contact with any men you don't want to attract. Keep the curtains drawn so your neighbours can't see into your apartment.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and all that. And with some precautions, anyone can enjoy their stay in Turkey and I agree with Molly that tales of pervs shouldn't put you off.

Mr. Kalgukshi · Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2005 10:00 pm Post subject: Unlocked

I've now unlocked this thread after deleting a personally insulting and offensive posting.

Please stay on topic and please read the sticky on this forum dealing with ET and derailment of threads.

If there is another personally insulting or offensive message posted here or if there are attempts to derail the thread, the responsible member(s) will be taking a vacation without pay from this board.

This thread appers to have real merit and deserves to be discussed in a professional manner.

Anything less will not be tolerated.