A Chinese reporter from Guancha.cn recently conducted an unusual social experiment that has captured widespread attention across social media platforms. The journalist, whose identity remains undisclosed, disguised himself as a woman during a trip to India to document potential harassment and unwanted advances that solo female travelers might encounter.
The video experiment began with the reporter carefully preparing his feminine disguise. On his first day, he braided his hair and donned what he described as a “sexy dress.” Despite acknowledging that his appearance might not be conventionally attractive, he was confident in his ability to pass as a woman, noting his intention to speak in a softer voice to maintain the illusion.
His journey started with a taxi ride to crowded areas, where he immediately noticed the intense stares from local men. At the Ganges River, numerous eyes followed his every movement. One man in a shirt began trailing him, seemingly trying to determine his actual gender, but eventually gave up and walked away.
The most peculiar encounter occurred while the reporter sat eating watermelon by the roadside. A bearded local man approached and sat beside him, staring intensively. Without permission, the man took the reporter’s leftover watermelon and began eating it, praising its taste. Even more weirdly, he removed anti-mosquito patches from the reporter’s belongings and applied them to his own forehead, continuing to stare for approximately ten minutes until the reporter decided to leave.
As evening approached, a man in yellow clothing showed interest and actually reached out to touch the reporter, apparently trying to verify his gender through physical contact. Despite these uncomfortable moments, the first day concluded without any major incidents.
Determined to continue his experiment, the reporter visited a local makeup salon the following day to enhance his appearance. For 1,000 rupees, he received professional makeup, hair styling, and nail services, specifically requesting a look that would make him appear “vulnerable to danger.”
The improved disguise proved more effective. Walking through busy markets, he attracted significantly more attention within just a hundred meters, drawing crowds of vendors and onlookers. The situation became overwhelming, forcing him to run to avoid being completely surrounded. Even hosiery sellers followed him, confirming that his disguise was convincing enough to be mistaken for an actual woman.
However, the experience took a troublesome turn when groups of children persistently demanded money, following him relentlessly. The harassment became so intense that he eventually had to pay them to gain some relief, though some continued pursuing him. During this chaos, he discovered that pickpockets had rifled through his backpack, though fortunately nothing valuable was stolen.
The reporter’s three-day experiment revealed a complex picture of street-level interactions in India. While he experienced persistent staring, inappropriate touching, and various forms of harassment, the feared severe incidents did not materialize, particularly in busy market areas where crowds provided some level of natural protection.
The video documentation of this experiment was originally posted on Weibo and later reshared by the account @爱国青年刘战神 on Twitter, where it gained viral attention. Interestingly, the content was mislabeled as featuring a South Korean individual rather than identifying the reporter’s actual Chinese nationality.
This unconventional investigation method shows the ongoing global conversation about women’s safety while traveling, particularly in regions where solo female travelers face documented risks. The experiment concludes with the reporter preparing to leave India, having gained insights into the daily realities that women might face while navigating public spaces in certain regions.