CarolC, thanks for your comments. I do think it's a very different thing to walk around urban (or rural) neighborhoods as a woman vs as a man, and that unless one has done that, it's difficult to imagine what it feels like. Reading this thread, I was beginning to feel that all I needed to do was to develop a walk like John Wayne or his British counterpart, speak in a loud voice, have peace in my heart and love toward all humankind, and all would be well. Having said that, I also think that probably, the worst case scenario as far as the USA is concerned would be to be a young Black, Latino, or Native man or woman walking in an upperclass, white neighborhood.