Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

Women-Only Taxis for Alexandria, Egypt?

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Alexandria, Egypt, may be the next location for women-only taxi services. In the last few months, Mexico and Lebanon launched such services because of the harassment women passengers and women drivers otherwise face (and several other countries already had women-only taxis).

Members of the Egyptian Centre for Women’s Rights and other groups working to make Egypt a more equitable place for women are outspokenly against such a move. ECWR’s 2008 report on sexual harassment and on-going efforts to introduce anti-sexual harassment legislation has created a national dialogue about men who harass women in public spaces, and I am not surprised they are against this measure. Here is what opponents of the women-only taxi service are saying:

“Such moves represent a rights setback at legal, religious and society levels. They contradict the (Egyptian) constitution and international conventions, which establish equality between men and women.” – EGWR

“It’s very risky for our society. If it’s an excuse to solve problems like sexual harassment or other types of violence, it’s a very naïve solution for a very complicated problem…We need to see the reason and create a good solution, such as having proper transport or more security in the street, not isolate women in taxis.”
– ECWR

“Isolation is not the right idea to protect women. There is no problem with the mixing of women and men. The problem is bad morals and upbringing,” said Amna Nousseir, a professor at the Islamic seminary Al Azhar University. “It is alien to the nature of Egyptian women who have long been accustomed to walking and working alongside men without a problem,” she said.

And supporters of the service are saying:

“There is no need for such a fuss so long as women-only as well as mixed services are available,” said Mahassen Ahmad, a government employee. “Leave people to make their choices. To me, female-only taxis, driven by women, will be welcome to save women from the usual sexual harassment on public transport.”

A commentator identified as Nabil described it as “the best way to protect women against immoral sexual harassment. I pray that this practice will spread to all the Islamic states because it provides safety and security for women during their excursions.”

It’s hard to educate men not to harass women (or rather not educate them to harass women), but isn’t it worth it? Otherwise, women will still be harassed when they aren’t in a women-only taxi…

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Male entitlement

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I was walking back to my apartment in Manchester (UK), having done some grocery shopping. It was winter time and very cold, so the only flesh showing was my face. I’m usually listening to music as I’m walking about, so I had earphones in, but I suddenly noticed there was a man behind me and that he was trying to talk to me.

I turned round as I caught the end of the sentence: “… I just had to tell you, you look beautiful.”

I said, “Okay, thank you” and carried on walking.

He continued to follow me saying, “I know it’s an inconvenient time and you’re in a rush but I just had to say that.”

I replied, “Yes it is really, but thanks anyway.”

The man seemed shocked and said, “Oh” as if I was going to entertain the idea of a conversation with him.

Of all the situations of harassment I’ve had I probably dealt with this one the best, but it still made me angry and frustrated. I couldn’t understand why he had picked me out from the crowds that were around or why he thought I would be flattered by that.

– HC

Location: Manchester, UK

Share your street harassment story today and help raise awareness about the problem. Include your location and it will be added to the Street Harassment Map.

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Weekly Round Up Jan. 10, 2010

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Now that I’m done writing my book, I’m back to doing a weekly round up blog post on Sundays. This is my first edition since August, welcome!

Stories:

Share your street harassment story today and help raise awareness about the problem. Include your location and it will be added to the Street Harassment Map.

In the News:

Announcements:

  • Want an easy way to report harassers from your phone or want to receive a report showing all the places harassment has recently occurred? Then vote for HollaBack 2.0! This is a proposed project by HollaBack NYC and RightRides and they’re in the second round of a competition for funding to make this a reality.
  • After more than two months, I updated my HarassMap with the stories people have submitted to my blog. Check out the map to see all the places where street harassment is occurring.

Events:

Resource of the Week:

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Public masturbation…not funny

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A man at a Starbucks in Chicago was charged with public indecency after being reported (and caught on video) fondling himself while staring at women patrons.

The Consumerist covered this story, and, as people who write online comments are apt to do in response to stories about street harassment, sexual assault, and all things gender-based, most people made light of this incident. They said things like “He was just practicing safe sex. Don’t hate. Masturbate.” and “As a regular starbucks customer, I am much more careful about my secret perversions & fondling.” and “Hey if someone wants to rub one out at Starbucks go for it. i wonder if that will end up as part of the froth to the next capp they serve.”

As far as I can tell, most comments were from men and they (unsurprisingly) neglected to consider how disgusted, disturbed, and even threatened a woman can feel as the recipient/target of such actions. Instead they treat what happened as a big joke. I like jokes. I don’t like men treating women in public spaces as though they exist to serve as their personal masturbatory tool. In the context of gender inequality and rape culture, I just don’t see the humor.

Thanks for the story tip, B

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