Tips for Women Students in Peru

Abstract

Gender roles in Peru tend to be more traditional than in the U.S., with women, especially in rural areas, primarily expected to be responsible for a majority of domestic duties. “Machista” cultural norms persist in Peru; men are expected to perform in traditionally “manly” ways. It is not unusual for locals to question female travelers about their marital status and wonder why they are traveling without a male companion. Some Peruvian men may assume that U.S. women travelers are more liberal and sexually promiscuous than their Peruvian counterparts.