The Gender Barrier to Backpacking

I gotta say it, being male carries a huge advantage as a solo backpacker in South America. The hostel was teeming with dudes from all over Europe, many of whom are traveling alone, and it was extremely easy to befriend them and have someone to go out for a meal with, drink with, or explore with. The only girls that I met were with boyfriends, thus avoiding the situation in which a solo girl tries to make friends with the aforementioned solo dudes.

This is not to mention the fact that I feel I would not be nearly as comfortable walking at night alone, taking taxis alone, or doing much of anything alone in this foreign city of Latin dudes if I were a girl.