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The movie 678

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It’s no secret that public sexual harassment is a big problem in Egypt, for both Egyptian and foreign women. A new Egyptian film called 678, released this month, is putting the spotlight on this problem, as well as the problem of sexual harassment in the workplace.

Via Facebook

Via Gulf News:

In the film, popular actress and singer Bushra plays the part of an employee who suffers from harassment and is regularly molested while travelling to and from work on the public bus service. It marks the directorial debut of Mohammad Diab and is named after bus route No 678, which the heroine uses.

“The claim that the film harms Egypt’s image is a silly joke. Keeping silent on this phenomenon is what really harms Egypt’s name,” Bushra said in a recent interview.

Via The National:

Mohamed Diab, the director of the film, believed it to be among the most important movies he had produced.

Speaking at the seventh Dubai International Film Festival ahead of the gala screening of the film last night, Diab said: “I have made commercial movies before, but 678 was a risk. I have a strong belief in it and will continue its campaign, because it is not just a movie.” …

Egyptian singer Bushra, who was cast as one of the leading ladies, said the movie was about all women from all social classes.

“This film is about women’s rights, human rights and the invasion of privacy. We are discussing it from an Egyptian perspective because this is how we experienced it, but there is no doubt that this is a universal problem,” she said.

“Women of all ages and social class can [fall victim] to harassment, so the issue is how each relates and handles it,” she said.

Bushra also noted a surge of serious films which surpassed commercial motivation. “Politicians alone do not create change. It is high time for us actors and filmmakers to also participate,” she said.

Great!! I would love to see many more movies about sexual harassment that portray it in a negative light (instead of as a joke, compliment, or minor annoyance). Movies are powerful mediums for shaping public opinion. (Update: here is another article that describes more of the movie plot)

Another exciting new resource for changing the social acceptability of public sexual harassment in Egypt is HarassMap, which allows them to report harassers to a map tracking system.

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“He asked me if I was into S&M”

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A year ago I went with my mother to visit Chicago for my birthday. It was a weekend trip and the only thing that I could put down as harassment was when we were on the train going from the airport to our hotel.

There were no seats left and I was standing by the doors holding onto one of the metal poles. There was a man across from me and at first he didn’t say anything until about fifteen to twenty minutes later when he made a comment about a necklace I was wearing. He asked me if I was into S&M. The necklace was a pair of handcuffs that I had bought at Claire’s, of all places.

I was a little bit put off but simply responded, “No, I just liked the necklace” Thankfully he didn’t say anything to me until he got off about ten minutes later.

Later when I told my mother about the experience she said to me that I had to at least expect some comments because of what the necklace was. I don’t agree and I thought that what that man had said to me was inappropriate.

– Anonymous

Location: Chicago, IL

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Street Harassment Snapshot: December 12, 2010

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Read stories, news articles, blog posts, and tweets about street harassment from the past week and find relevant announcements and upcoming street harassment events.

Story Submissions Recap:

I accept street harassment submissions from anywhere in the world. Share your story!

Street Harassment in the News, on the Blogs:

Upcoming Events:

Announcements:

New:

On-going:

Ten Tweets from the Week:

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“Once again I was being singled out for being of the same race”

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Why is it that when I have a period when I don’t get harassed and don’t think about street harassment that it happens again?

I was walking home from work on the Key Bridge this evening, and was in my own zone, and I hear a voice yell “‘Scuse me…’scuse me!” and out of the corner of my eye I see it’s coming from a red SUV sitting in Key Bridge traffic that was at a standstill. Though I couldn’t see this guy’s face, I could tell by his voice he was a “brotha” and that once again I was being singled out for happening to be of the same race.

We were heading in opposite directions (I was walking towards Virginia and he was driving into DC) and I knew with my street harassment sixth sense he didn’t have anything important to say. I ignored him.

Then he starts asking, “Girl, are you cold? You cold, girl?” I continue towards my destination and continue to tune him out. I didn’t turn my head to look at him, and though I wasn’t afraid to confront him, I was not in the mood to say shit to him. I was tired, worn out and wanted to get home. I just kept walking. His response to my ignoring him was to laugh. What the hell did he think I was going to do, climb over the partition that separates the pedestrians from the drivers and talk to him?! Give me a break!

As I said, I was singled out by this guy because we’re both black. There were plenty of other people walking one way or another on that bridge. He said nothing to the two white women I’d passed in front of, one lugging rolling luggage and another cheerfully talking on her phone to her mother about her holiday plans. He didn’t say shit to a middle-aged couple walking in the opposite direction. He didn’t say anything to the men or the numerous cyclists. Nope, just me, all because we are the same race and I was solo and guys like him think single black women are prey. He’s bored while stuck in traffic and used me, a solo black woman, for a quick laugh.

From my many dealings with same-race harassment (some posted here, others not) it’s the same thing. If I say “I don’t know you!” or “Just because we’re the same race doesn’t mean you have permission to talk to me,” I get called “white-worshipper!”, “stuck up,” or told I think I’m “white.” If I tell them to go fuck themselves I get told “you’re ugly anyway.” I could’ve taken his photo like I normally do with harassers, but my phone takes useless photos at night. If I try to calmly educate them on why harassment’s not cool and specifically why they need to let single black women be, they act dense. “Why can’t I holla at a sista?” BECAUSE THIS SISTA DOESN’T WANT TO BE HOLLA’D AT!!!!! All said, I am tired of these men, not interested in standing out in the cold to dispatch yet another harasser, tired of the randomness of it all, and just wanted to get home.

Though this incident was minor compared to others, the reason why I’m so angry is because it’s yet another instance of me being harassed to add to my collection of harassment stories, and I’m sick of it.

– Tired of Being Harassed

Location: Key Bridge, Arlington, VA

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“Stop looking so good, you fucking bitch.”

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Last week, I was walking to the bus stop in downtown Vancouver. I had just returned from a job interview and was dressed up. A couple of older men stumbled out of one of the bars on the street and walked towards me. One of them walked up to me and said, “Stop looking so good, you fucking bitch.”

They both laughed and kept walking. I just shook my head and kept walking.

– Margaret

Location: Vancouver, BC

Share your street harassment story today and help raise awareness about the problem. Find suggestions for what YOU can do about this human rights issue.

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