Egypt Finds Freedom -- From Sexual Harassment

Feb. 1, 2011 — -- Whether or not the past week of protests usher in real political change in Egypt, they have already brought a certain freedom for Egyptian women. Protestors say the current street demonstrations have brought at least a temporary reprieve from the rampant sexual harassment that has marred most public gatherings in recent years.

"Usually in protests you dress especially for them," said 23-year-old Sarah Ismail of Cairo. "You wear really baggy things so that you don't attract that kind of attention. But this time I didn't do that. I'm just glad that sexual harassment didn't stand in the way of the revolution. "

While there are few credible statistics about rape and sexual harassment in Egypt, a study done by the Egyptian Center for Women's Rights in 2008 showed that 83 percent of all women surveyed had experienced some form of sexual harassment, including stalking by telephone, being followed in the streets and even groping. The survey covered only a small portion of the country and did not use rigorous scientific sampling. Recently, the U.S. State Department warned female travelers to Egypt that "Unescorted women are vulnerable to sexual harassment and verbal abuse. The Embassy has received increasing reports over the last several months of foreigners being sexually groped in taxis and in public places."

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During large public gatherings, packs of young men have often chased and attacked women. During rioting in 2006, attacks by throngs of men on young women in the streets attracted the attention of the media. In 2009, during a soccer celebration in the Cairo neighborhood of Mohendeseen, almost 100 young men chased down two girls, attempting to rip their clothes off. That same night women in a horse drawn carriage were attacked by a similar sized group, and only retreated when the driver started using his whip. That same year, men attacked women during a protest in front of the journalist's syndicate in downtown Cairo.

In an infamous online ad campaign in 2008, a religious group suggested veils would shield women from attack. Two pictures side-by-side showed a wrapped lollipop and then an unwrapped lollipop, covered with flies. "You can't stop them," said the ad, "but you can protect yourself. In fact, the men attacking women in the streets have not seemed to discriminate between veiled and unveiled women.

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