I really have something to say here, I've been a lurker on QL and always feel bad when people say it's the local Qataris who are harrassing/raping? the women.

 

We all live in a country where 10 years ago you would not see any women on the street, even the foreigner women did not go out much. All you saw was men! I think the country still has a 4:1 ratio of men:women (many are low-pay workers).

 

Many of the men here (of many different nationalities) are woman-hungry, and they think that any woman that smiles "wants them". Unfortunatelt you never know what on a man's mind. Just like anywhere else, you cannot know the good guys from the bad guys.

 

Self-defence, running and screaming, are the only options for a woman walking alone (esp. at night).There are a lot of good people out there so running for help may be an option (but you still never know).

 

Local woman do not go out alone at night for the same reason.

 

p.s. nobody walks in Qatar, we only use cars,even for a 100m trip.

p.p.s. yes I drive a white landcruiser.