Medellin Women: Female Perspective Living in Medellin

TLDR? The City of Eternal Spring is safe for Medellin women, whether local or foreign, to roam on their own and see the best of what the city has to offer.

It’s always good to do research and find references when going somewhere new to eat, visit, tour, or live, especially when you’re a woman concerned about safety. 

If you’re a woman traveling to Medellín looking to hear from the perspective of a woman who has lived in Medellín, you’re in the right spot! 

Read ahead to hear about women in Medellín, and find out if the city is the right place for you. 

A Medium-Sized City

The size of a city is very important to me if I’m going to be traveling there alone. A big city can be too overwhelming, while a small city can be too boring. 

The good thing about Medellín is that it’s not too big or too small: while smaller than Bogota, the capital of Colombia, it’s bigger than other cities such as Ibague, Nieva, and Pereira. 

Medellín is one of the country’s most important cities thanks to its technological advancements, sustainability, infrastructure, and tourism. The city offers spaces for education and work and has won international awards. 

Medellín is the ideal size, in my opinion, and you can find all kinds of local and international wares in restaurants, clothes, supermarkets, and more. 

Its strategic location within Colombia is close to many major cities tourists can visit at affordable prices. 

Means of Transport

Medellín’s Metro System is an excellent system of transportation. It’s the only city with a Metro in Colombia and is continually regulated and monitored. 

If underground public transport makes you uneasy, there are many other ways to get around, such as buses, taxis, ride-share apps, and private cars. 

Men and women alike take public transportation as it’s cheap, safe, and effective.                                                                                                                                                            

Housing for Women in Medellin

Like most cities, some of Medellín’s neighborhoods are safer and better located than others. 

As a woman, I recommend finding a place in one of the city’s best areas: Laureles, El Poblado, Conquistadores, or Ciudad del Rio. 

You’ll have the option to live alone in a penthouse, apartment, or studio. You can also share a place with others, but with a city as safe as Medellin, it’s really not necessary.

Shopping and Malls

In Medellín, it’s easy to maintain a high quality of living.

In supermarkets, you’ll find all kinds of products, as well as diet products and fresh fruit and vegetables. 

If you’re looking to get into or stay in shape, there are paid or open-air gyms, and linear parks for running or walking. 

Along the lines of maintaining physical health, there are many spas in Medellín, as well as hairdressers, nail salons, and eyelash and eyebrow technicians. 

It’s also a city chosen by people looking for cosmetic surgeries thanks to the high-quality professionals and affordable prices. 

It’s a great city full of people who enjoy taking care of themselves and looking good! 

Job and Educational Opportunities

In Medellin, there are different job offers as well as undergraduate or postgraduate university institutions.

Thanks to progressive advances, Medellín is leaving patriarchal ways behind, and companies are increasingly committed to inclusion. It’s considered one of the most inclusive cities in regard to gender. 

This wasn’t always the case, but modern Latin men are looking to leave chauvinistic ways behind and enter a world of equality. 

Women’s Secretariat

The local Administration of Medellín has appointed a Women’s Secretariat in charge of ensuring equal opportunities between men and women, as well as preventing discriminatory practices against the female gender. 

This important project provides a government entity dedicated to supporting and protecting women in Medellín. 

Gym & Sports Centers

Whether you want to maintain a healthy lifestyle or lose a few extra pounds, there are sports centers and gyms all throughout Medellín, as well as many clubs and groups devoted entirely to women’s welfare. 

Yoga, Zumba, swimming, and more: Medellín is full of women’s groups specializing in personalized training that not only provides results but fits their busy schedule, allowing women to feel comfortable and safe in an exclusive environment. 

Two of these exclusive sports centers are: 

• Curves Gym Belen
• Amazonas fit

Medellin’s Nightlife for Women

For women, partying in a city like Medellin has some advantages and disadvantages. As a woman, you’ll enjoy cheaper entry fees to bars and clubs as well as some discounts on drinks and cocktails, but you’ll also need to keep your wits about you and be careful. 

Many locals recommend the “zona rosa,” a spot known for its large numbers of bars and clubs,  to single women or groups of friends looking for a night out. Avoid seedy bars or unfamiliar places in the city. 

I recommend heading out in a group of trusted friends, planning a means of transportation home, and keeping an eye on your drink when enjoying the city’s extravagant nightlife. 

If you’re still unsure about the best places show your best moves on the dance floor, I’ve put together a list of the top five zonas rosas of Medellín: 

1. El Lleras (El Poblado neighborhood)
2. Colombia neighborhood
3. La 33
4. La 70
5. Las Palmas

You’ll find bars of clubs of varying prices and musical genre specialties in these places. 

Women’s Equality Groups

Feminism, a movement dedicated to seeking equal conditions and fair and dignified treatment for all women, has gained strength in Colombia in recent years and is linked to cultural events and city development. 

The city government of Medellín has gathered groups that bring together women of all ages, social strata, religions and other social conditions to debate, educate, and promote women’s rights.

Usually, these groups are non-profit associations founded by women leaders of the city who aim to help vulnerable populations such as single mothers, and unemployed women.

If you’re interested in taking part in any of these groups or learning more about the history and struggle of Colombian women, these are some of the associations you should know:

Union de Ciudadanas de Colombia

This association of women leaders of Medellin was formed in 1957.

Its goal is to bring together women and men determined to work in defense of democratic principles, community welfare, and the empowerment of women to participate actively in the political, socio-economic, and cultural development processes of Colombia.

Hiedras

This project was created in 2018 by a group of women who dreamed of creating a space dedicated to talking about feminism, gender, and sexuality, with a focus on young women. 

Education for girls and young women in Medellín is an important issue for Hiedras, and they seek to eliminate taboos and create a society of gender equality. 

Ruta Pacífica de las Mujeres

Colombia was formerly a country known for violence and armed conflict. Since 1995, Ruta Pacifica has worked to undo war and violence as expressions of power over women.

This association accompanies and supports the search for women victims of the conflict for peace in Colombia.

Things Women Can Do in Medellin

When it comes to things for women to do in Medellin, the real question is what can’t women do! Medellin is full of interesting activities and tours. There are tons of activities that are great whether you’re a woman traveling solo or with her partner.

From quiet walks on the green side of the city to water activities for adrenaline lovers, in Medellin, you can find a wide variety of fun things to do.

You may be surprised to hear that many public or meeting places could not be visited by women some years ago. This is currently a part of the past, and the city is now a place for gender diversity and tolerance. 

Some Facts and Figures About Women in Medellin

Medellín is a women’s city, and I’ve got the data to prove it! In 2020, 53% of the population in Medellín was made up of women. 

Women ages 18 to 24 have higher levels of schooling on average than men. The most studied sciences by women in Medellin are health sciences, administration and accounting, agronomy, veterinary, and education sciences.

Although, women have lower levels of occupation than men in the labor market and a higher unemployment rate. Despite that, as of 2019, 82% of women were satisfied with living in Medellín, compared to 83% of men. 

The cultural activities in which women participated the most in 2019 were going to the cinema (38%), reading books (25%), going to concerts (23%), and reading newspapers or magazines (18%).

Women over the age of 18 participate less than men in sports and recreational activities. In 2018, 80% said they had participated in at least one such activity, while 86% of men did.

These are some of the activities where the greatest differences between women and men are found. For instance, participation in the cycle route (15% vs 29%), the practice of some sport or some physical activity (21% vs 35%), and attendance of sporting events as a spectator (11% vs 23%).

They use public transport more as their main means of transport. In 2019, 40% of women used it, compared to 26% of men.

Is Medellin Safe For a Woman?

Medellin is definitely a safe city for a woman to live in. As with any city, avoiding unfamiliar or dangerous places is better, especially on your own. But, in general, you’ll see that Medellin women are very confident and know where to go! 

Beyond this, living in the City of Eternal Spring is a wonderful experience. That’s even more true when you meet new people!

Here, you can attend language exchanges, or even download dating apps without any inconvenience. Meet some friends, or even have a date with a local or another foreigner!

Join the Ranks of Happy Medellin Women

In a nutshell, Medellin is a safe city for women. Better yet, public transportation is great, housing is affordable, and the weather rocks! I’d call that a great list of reasons to move to the area.

Don’t think twice: take the opportunity to live in Medellin!

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