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Saint Kitts & Nevis is a very matriarchal society. A lot of the women run businesses and are the breadwinners. They are also expected to tend to the house and children. Women have a hefty role in this culture and are expected to be the glue that holds everything together, they are also expected to be wholesome and most likely attend church.
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Women going out to the bars where the men spend their nights is frowned upon.
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Women should dress conservatively and NEVER wear just a bathing suit or something skimpy to town. It would be considered disrespectful and somebody will probably tell you, as well as talk behind your back. This is especially true for foreigners, especially white women because they already have a bad reputation from tourism (people tend to do whatever they want and go wild while on vacation.) Besides, the amount of undesired attention from men could be extremely annoying.
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However, one might see some local women wearing skimpy fashions but they will most likely be younger women. There is somewhat of a double standard for foreigners. Best to err on the side of blending in and showing little skin.
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Knee length skirts, a blouse or polo with sandals would be considered appropriate attire for many occasions (shopping, seeing the sights, etc.)
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If you accept an invitation for a man to walk you home it may be perceived as a stage in the courting ritual.
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Men are extremely forward in this culture. If you are a woman you will more than likely get several men asking you out on any given day as well as “hissing” at you (pssssst!). If they suspect you are vulnerable some might descend upon you and be vulgar or rude.
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Never be afraid to put them in their place because they will be embarrassed if other people hear. Some of the men downtown (especially in St Kitts) see a lot of tourist women and get accustomed to treating them in a certain way because many foreign women tend to be too polite to put them in their place.
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It is rare to will hear a local man acting like that towards a local woman because he knows she will give him a sharp tongue-lashing and probably tell his mother. Also, if people know you have a partner abroad and you are seen too much with someone else they will surely talk about it. Everybody knows everybody else’s business here.
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