Non-issue, don't miss out on the convenience of a camera bag out of paranoia.
I'm so low T and scrawny people mistake me for a woman constantly and nobody has ever mistreated my gear or stolen it so far.
I cover all the gold rings Nikon puts on the lenses with hockey tape because I have middle eastern evil-eye instincts and I hold my camera by the lens when I walk somewhere like Istanbul where people allegedly will try to twist and grab the lens.
Also speak Russian when you visit countries like that. American tourists come alone, are good-natured, trusting, and have money. Russians are poor, distrustful, travel in massive tour groups and are feared like negroes. If a gypsy comes to you trying to distract you to sell you something so his friend can grab your lens or wallet, literally say anything in Russian. Insult him, threaten him, propose marriage to him. Perhaps the gypsy's dalit ancestors scream out in fear to him, or perhaps I just seem retarded. Most likely the latter.
