Almost every lady traveller to Egypt has experienced a few degree of sexual harassment: penetrating stares in addition to lewd and suggestive feedback with the aid of male by-standers, touching, groping and rubbing on public shipping and in crowded areas, genital exposure and in rarer instances, rape. A recent survey completed by using ECWR (Egyptian Centre for Women’s Rights) found that 88% of foreign women and 82% of local women, even those wearing hijab and completely blanketed, have skilled one or greater of the above.
This upsurge in sexual harassment is the result of a complex situation dealing with Egyptian society consisting of the influence of mullas within the mosques and increasing ‘Islamization’; the financial scenario with high male unemployment; cultural and non secular mores concerning intercourse and marriage; male hostility to the growing numbers of girls leaving the house to work, and the all-pervading impact of the Internet.
So how can overseas ladies traveling workplace harassment statistics in Egypt guard themselves against, or as a minimum minimize, unwanted attention even as nonetheless taking part in the Egyptian experience.
Travel with a male friend if possible.
Try to arrive on the airport throughout the day and set up for airport transfer either with a motel or MISR (Egyptian tour Agency) limousine.
Use certified taxis, ideally those advocated by way of authentic resorts, to journey round big cities.
Sit up the the front with the girls in neighborhood buses if you should use public shipping and in the first automobile of the Metro which is reserved for girls.
Do now not cross onto a train platform or right into a carriage if there’s no different female around.
Don’t walk in deserted areas and in no way ask men for directions. Ask girls.
Keep doorways in lodges and on sleeper trains locked.
Be aware when traveling Internet shops and cafes as young predatory men regularly dangle available.
Watch out for organizations of young teens seeking to engage you in communication.
Avoid shaking palms with salesmen and do not permit guys in bazaars and shops touch you or invade your personal space.
Never take delivery of an invitation from a stranger to accompany him someplace, by no means return to a shop to buy something after hours and in no way go into the again room of a store on my own.
Be careful within the camel and horse enclosure near the Sphinx and don’t ever journey in tandem on a camel.
Don’t strip right down to a bikini to sunbathe or swim except inside the privateness of a top magnificence motel along the coasts of the Red Sea and Sinai. Even then you may nonetheless attract unwanted attention.
Avoid direct eye touch with men if feasible. Wear shades to make this easier.
Wear headphones to keep away from hearing filthy feedback or even if you do, try to ignore them.
Create a scene if a male attempts to touch you and make sure you seize the attention of these around you via shouting out some thing in Arabic like ‘ihtirim nafsakin’ (‘behave yourself’) or in English like, ‘how dare you contact me, who do you observed you are?’ Shock and humiliate the perpetrator who will likely run off in embarrassment.
Follow the instance of a number of the extra brave neighborhood Egyptian ladies, who carry veil pins and capsicum spray.
Although many Egyptian males are captivating, funny, hospitable and useful, sexual harassment of foreign girls is the guideline in place of the exception. However, there’s no want to be paranoid or travel in worry. To enjoy your vacation, simply be aware and take affordable precautions.