A New Zealand woman, known online as Molly or molsgonewild, has shared a distressing encounter during her solo travels in Sri Lanka, which has resonated with many women globally. In a video posted on social media over the weekend, she recounted how a local man approached her while she was in a tuk-tuk, asking for sex and subsequently exposing himself. This incident has sparked discussions about the realities of solo travel for women.
Molly described the experience as shocking, stating, “I debated sharing this – but this is the reality of solo travel as a woman.” In the viral clip, she appears visibly shaken as the man, initially seeming friendly, abruptly makes his inappropriate advances. “Have sex?” he inquired, to which Molly politely refused. The situation escalated quickly, culminating in the man exposing himself while pleading, “please?” Molly managed to drive away, left bewildered by the encounter.
Speaking to news.com.au, Molly emphasized that such experiences are not confined to foreign countries. “I’ve been sexually harassed in New Zealand,” she noted, highlighting that the fear of harassment can manifest anywhere. She underscored the importance of being vigilant while traveling. “I exercise extra caution while traveling as a woman. I think you’d be an idiot not to,” she stated, adding that she always carries a pocket knife and remains alert to her surroundings.
In the wake of her video, Molly faced a mixed reaction online, including victim-blaming comments suggesting that her solo travel was to blame for the incident. “There was a lot of victim blaming,” she recounted, with some individuals even criticizing her survival skills. “Women should be able to solo travel; we are not the problem. It’s the men who don’t know how to behave correctly,” she asserted.
Following the incident, Molly reported the matter to the Tourism Police Department in Sri Lanka. She expressed gratitude for their prompt response, stating they began searching for the man within 24 hours. Remarkably, he was arrested two days later and is now facing court proceedings.
Despite the traumatic experience, Molly remains optimistic about solo travel for women. She believes that her encounter should not deter women from exploring the world independently. “I’ve been to so many countries that people label as unsafe, and all I have experienced is kindness from locals,” she affirmed, reinforcing the idea that while harassment can occur, it does not define the entirety of traveling as a woman.
Molly’s story sheds light on the broader issue of harassment that many women face while traveling, sparking necessary conversations about safety and respect in tourism. Her experience serves as both a warning and a testament to the resilience of women who choose to explore the world on their own terms.
