Forum - Sexual Harassment

Even in Moslem countries sexual harassment exists for native women an foreign tourists. Egypt seems to be the worst.

Two-thirds of Egyptian men harass women? By Cynthia Johnston
Thu Jul 17, 1:15 PM ET



Nearly two-thirds of Egyptian men admit to having sexually harassed women in the most populous Arab country, and a majority say women themselves are to blame for their maltreatment, a survey showed Thursday.

The forms of harassment reported by Egyptian men, whose country attracts millions of foreign tourists each year, include touching or ogling women, shouting sexually explicit remarks, and exposing their genitals to women. "Sexual harassment has become an overwhelming and very real problem experienced by all women in Egyptian society, often on a daily basis," said the report by the Egyptian Center for Women's Rights.

Egyptian women and female visitors frequently complain of persistent sexual harassment on Egyptian streets, despite the socially conservative nature of this traditional Muslim society.

The behavior could have repercussions on Egypt's tourism industry, a major foreign income earner, with 98 percent of foreign women saying they had experienced harassment in the country, the survey said.

The survey of more than 2,000 Egyptian men and women and 109 foreign women said the vast majority of Egyptians believed that sexual harassment in Egypt was on the rise, citing a worsening economic situation and a lack of awareness or religious values.

It said 62 percent of Egyptian men reported perpetrating harassment, while 83 percent of Egyptian women reported having been sexually harassed. Nearly half of women said the abuse occurred daily.

Only 2.4 percent of Egyptian women reported it to the police, with most saying they did not believe anyone would help. Some feared reporting harassment would hurt their reputations.

"The vast majority of women did nothing when confronted with sexual harassment," the survey said, adding that most Egyptian women believed the victim should "remain silent."

Some 53 percent of men blamed women for bringing on sexual harassment, saying they enjoyed it or were dressed in a way deemed indecent. Some women agreed.

"Out of Egyptian women and men interviewed, most believe that women who wear tight clothes deserve to be harassed," the survey said. It added most agreed women should be home by 8 p.m.

The survey said most of the Egyptian women who told of being harassed said they were dressed conservatively, with the majority wearing the Islamic headscarf. The harassment took place on the streets or on public transport, as well as in tourist destinations and foreign educational institutions.

(Writing by Cynthia Johnston; Editing by Caroline Drees)

Egypt is the worst no doubts! I have been told by those of my gal mates who used to visit it. Local egyptian guys are like baboons, hehe..

It may be that their government doesn't have laws against things like that. They do have their socially conservative ways still; but I also think that many probably feel repressed and want to have freedom. I have also seen on Nightline a news program a few months ago; that there are a lot of the men and women starting to get away from some of the traditional ways of living. Some of them reported to like going to dance clubs,dating, and having sex too before marriage.
It was a very interesting report.

Law is law. But note a nuance: such laws in countries like Egypt (I know it because I also live in a country that is like Egypt in some aspects) are not commonly considered as something important. There are too many problems that are (or at least considered as) quite more essential and mundane. The best law turns into a squib if the local particulars aren't taken into account.

I can understand that kotikkk. It's kind of like they have to choose which or what problem; and or law is more important at the time. It's kind of sad though because even if someone else is getting helped; then, someone else does not get the help they need. Yes, you're right; they surely would need cooperation of the local particulars as well for it all to work.

I have been told about some funny events in Egypt but none of the girls was seriosly harassed. They just laughed at those egyptian guys.
8)

That is very good that they were ok with the guys ;and they had a good attitude as well. I'm sure if the guys got out of hand seriously harassing them; that the girls would try to report it. So, it's good that things turned out ok.

I think this harrasment is mainly due to the sexual probhitation of a woman baring exposed skin, including, ankels in Moslem countries. It is truly a hipocritical system. Publicly the men degread the women for trying to dress in a modern way while privately the go to strip clubs and brothels.