As our series comes to a close, it’s time to think of a solution. Sexual harassment rots our society from the inside, and like a festering sore, it will never be cured unless it is cleaned out and comes into the light. Awareness building will bring it out into the open but only education and laws will be able to disinfect the segment of male society that thrives on this activity.
In our search for the reasons behind sexual harassment, we’ve come to the conclusion that a lot of it is based on frustration in life – not necessarily sexual frustration as much as human rights violations and humiliation by governing forces.
“Being pushed around by authority without reason is particularly emasculating,” explains Dr. Said Ibrahim, a behavioral psychologist, “and the regime these men grew up in was constantly challenging the masculinity of its male citizens,” in reference to incidents where arrested men reported being sexually abused by the police.
“It’s an ego thing,” affirms Salima Barakat, “and it comes out sexually because the act of sexual harassment is very passive aggressive. If their frustration came out in violence it would be aggressive only, but if it’s sexual, under the table, it’s passive aggressive.”
In any case, the first step is bringing the problem out in the open. With this file and our plans to translate it, we begin to spread awareness. Many organizations campaign to get the word out and the Arabic term for sexual harassment has become more common in the streets. Even the “Chicken News” on the Quahera wil Nas channel on TV brought up the question of the revolution having an effect on harassment in the street.
"Plans are still in place for a nationwide campaign on sexual harassment, including an informational school tour for children between 8 and 12," explains Safi, a radio presenter and a spokesperson for harassmap.org. "We would like to reach children because they’re at an age that is relatively malleable." While Safi believes that Twitter and Facebook have done a lot for awareness about sexual harassment, he campaigns on the radio and TV to reach the segment of society that he believes we need to target the most.
If we tackle harassment head-on, it can be eradicated.
Although the series has come to a close, the almasryalyoum.com/enteam is not finished tackling the subject. Ramadan and Eid are two of the most frustrating times for women on the streets of Cairo.
Check the Life & Style section for more coverage on sexual harassment, sexual violence and other societal issues that affect men and women in all socioeconomic levels of society. For suggestions or concerns, send an email to the editor at [email protected].
