Concerned about harassment? Discover vital steps for staying safe in public spaces, including how to react to harassment, protect yourself and others, and support anti-harassment efforts.
Does thinking about harassment in public spaces make you uneasy? It’s a topic that’s unfortunately relevant, and something we really need to address. So, we’re gonna break it down and look at steps you can take to stay safe. We’ll explore it further below!
Official Stats
Here are some official stats, specifically on harassment:
1- UN Women Report
A UN Women report came out in 2013, and these are some of its findings:
- 99.3% of women in Egypt have experienced sexual harassment during their lives.
- 96.5% of women who went to university reported experiencing harassment “by touch,” which is the most common type of harassment.
- Verbal harassment, in relation to second-degree harassment, came in at 95.5%.
2- A Report from Egypt
A survey conducted by the Egyptian Center for Women’s Rights in 2008 interviewed 2000 Egyptian citizens (men and women) and 109 foreign women in 4 governorates:
- 83% of Egyptian women said they had experienced harassment in public spaces at least once.
- Half of those surveyed said they experience harassment daily.
- 98% of foreign women reported experiencing some form of sexual harassment during their time in Egypt.
- 62% of Egyptian men who participated in the survey admitted to participating in harassment at some point.
3- A Report from Morocco
In Morocco, a study by the Higher Planning Commission in 2009 revealed that 63% of women had experienced some form of sexual harassment in public places during their lives.
4- A Report from Yemen
A survey conducted by “Yemen Times” in 2009 in Sanaa indicated that 90% of women participating in the survey had experienced on-the-job harassment.
Besides these numbers and stats, official and research bodies register various cases of harassment reported to them daily, and there are more cases that happen every day, whether due to fear, shame, or psychological distress when they occur (know yourself: what you know about sexual harassment).
Steps to Protect Yourself from Harassment
If you’re dealing with harassment in public spaces, or are worried about it happening, here are some things that can help you protect yourself and others. Because, let’s be real, it’s needed.
- If you notice someone harassing you, try changing direction, or ask for help from another person, or go to one of the available places around you.
- If you feel like you’re in a safe area, stand firm and make sure to:
- Ask them to stop doing what they’re doing, or commenting on you, without looking at them directly, or yelling.
- Make them feel like what they’re doing is unacceptable, and that you won’t let them get away with it; the harasser usually won’t bother with stronger women and is scared of them.
- If the harasser is a coworker in a workplace:
- Report the incident to their manager or the person in charge of the location as soon as possible.
- Ask them to take immediate measures, and if you feel they’re not offering adequate support, file an official complaint with the police.
- Always try to be in a group in unsafe places, whether at work, traveling, or moving around at any time of day.
- Avoid traveling alone, especially late at night. If that’s unavoidable, be quick, confident, and act like you’re a strong woman who can defend herself, even if you’re not feeling it.
- Carry something to help you defend yourself, such as:
- A stick, or spray, that can spray its contents into the harasser’s eyes.
- A whistle, or something that makes a loud noise to attract attention to you if someone is harassing you.
- It can be helpful to learn some self-defense moves to use in these situations.
- Teach your children about their personal boundaries, so they don’t become harassers themselves.
- Don’t stay quiet if you see something happening to someone else (types of sexual harassment are mind-blowing at times), but offer help by:
- Making direct eye contact with them.
- Letting people around you know what’s happening.
- Providing a safe and supportive environment.
- Support community organizations and groups working to combat harassment, such as:
- Donating to them.
- Supporting them by raising awareness.
- Sharing the information they provide on the issue (how to treat victims of harassment).
How to Deal with Harassment in Public Spaces
If someone starts acting inappropriately toward you in public, do the following:
- Raise your voice, so people around you notice. However, if the aggressor makes physical contact with you and has physical superiority:
- Try to get away from crowded places using your smarts.
- Confront them in the first opportunity, pointing out to him that his behavior towards you is rejected or leaves you in any way and valid to preserve.
- Don’t give in or apologize, as that won’t help you, but on the contrary, the harassed woman is exposed to greater harm than the one she is confronting.
- Express your rejection to the aggressor in a personal manner, so he doesn’t feel like you like what he’s doing, but make him feel the magnitude of what he is doing.
- If the aggressor is a stranger to you, try to keep his features or any unique signs on him like tattoos, to use it if you are involved in the confrontation and on the account to underestimate your knowledge of him.
I used to feel so anxious walking home from work, especially if it was getting dark. Learning about these steps, um, really empowered me. I started carrying a small personal alarm, and just knowing it was there made me feel a bit safer.
I witnessed harassment on the bus once, and honestly, I froze. I didn’t know what to do. After reading about bystander intervention, I realize there are things I can do, like just asking the person if they’re okay, you know?
Myth & Facts
Myth: It’s best to ignore harassers; they’ll eventually get bored.
Actually, ignoring harassment can sometimes embolden the harasser, leading to escalation. It’s always best to protect yourself.
Fact: Harassment is about power, not attraction.
Harassment isn’t a compliment. It’s about asserting dominance and control over another person, regardless of their appearance.
Question: What if confronting a harasser makes things worse?
Your safety is paramount. If you feel unsafe, prioritize getting away and seeking help. Reporting the incident later can also make a difference.
It’s important to remember that staying safe from harassment in public is a shared responsibility. While we can take steps to protect ourselves, society needs to challenge the attitudes and behaviors that lead to harassment. We’ve all got a role to play, and even small actions can make a difference.
