In Peru it was very common for me as a girl to hear “piropos” or cat calls on the street. Normally these are harmless but they can feel quite unsettling at first, and I liked to dress a little more conservatively than in the US to avoid uncomfortable stares. The tradition of “machismo” continues to exist, in the home and outside. The women usually are expected to cook and clean up and the men to be aggressive. As a girl  I had the problem that when I tried to meet new students it was only boys who were interested to be my ‘friend’ because it is considered very cool to date or be friends with Americans. Though homophobia is a problem, I encountered an active gay scene in Lima and some of the LGBT clubs are the most popular. There is an effort to change perceptions about LGBTs in Peru.