CAIRO: The ongoing epidemic of sexual harassment, sexual violence and physical assault against women in Egypt seems to be growing worse and worse. Over the past few days, walking an upscale Cairo neighborhood, I have seen women forced onto the street by men, young, old and middle-aged who harass, touch, grab and yell obscenities at female passersby. It doesn't matter if they are wearing veils, tight or loose clothes, a skirt or a full abaya. They are getting harassed. And it's getting horrific. No wonder women want to leave this country. Over the past months, many women I have spoken with, or Bikyamasr.com has interviewed, have attempted to steer the conversation away from sexual violence, for whatever reason. Some have even argued that women's rights are part the overall rights being pushed by the liberal parties and activists alike. There might be some truth to this point, but the stark reality is that Egypt is heading backwards in its treatment of women; and it has nothing to do with President Mohamed Morsi or the Muslim Brotherhood. The phenomenon of sexual violence crosses religion, socio-economic levels, age groups. It is everywhere and constant. If one thing is certain and hasn't changed in Egypt since the revolution, it is the overall debasement of women in this country. When is enough, enough? It's easy to tell stories of violence perpetrated against women, but the more subtle, daily jabs at women on the streets are the real picture that needs to be drawn. On a main street in Cairo, a woman was leaving a cultural institute, her music gear latched onto her back. She began walking down the street. As she passed, a group of teenagers pointed at her and loud enough to be heard, in English, exclaimed “I want to fuck you.” Not less than 50 meters later, two middle-aged men moved slowly into her path, bumping her slightly as one of the men allowed his arm to graze across her body. The woman, obviously stunned, moved to the street, battling oncoming traffic in an effort to avoid the violence being thrown at her. Maybe another 50 meters down the street, she passed a local cafe. Elderly men sitting outside the cafe almost as one body stopped and slowly looked her up and down. Maybe she didn't see. Let's hope she didn't. All ages, all groups. This woman's crime? Being a woman. It is a problem that has grown exponentially. Women simply hate going out. Who would blame them. The international media is quick to report on the mass assaults of women, especially foreign journalists, in recent years, but this will do little to change the reality facing women in Egypt. The local media must do more. The old man's club of Editors-in-chiefs in the country have no desire to portray Egypt as a “country that is antagonistic toward women," one reporter for a local daily told Bikyamasr.com. The old man's club of journalism needs to change in Egypt. Women's sections should be more than talking make-up or relationships. There are serious issues facing Egypt's female population that are simply be left aside by those in decision-making positions. But it's not just the media that needs to wake up to this situation. The argument that Egypt has more pressing needs to attend to before women's rights are discussed needs to end. And it must now. Women's rights are the most important issue at hand today. Not a constitution, not an election. It's women's rights. If women can't feel comfortable in their own country, then how can they be forced to choose between lesser evils who put their rights and demands second? They can't, and they shouldn't. As Nawal Saadawi, the prominent Egyptian feminist, told us recently in her Cairo house, “women are the revolution and without women you cannot have a future." She is right. Without the strength of the female population, Egypt's revolution teeters toward failure. Women were integral during the 18 days of protests against Hosni Mubarak in 2011, but now they can barely enter Tahrir Square without being assaulted. This is not the new Egypt so desired by activists. But they must take action. Women's rights are not an outlier claim being made by a small segment of society, they are the future of a country that has long struggled with the role of women in society, politics and business. This is the current, modern Egypt that exists. And one where women are silenced from public. The use of violence and harassment against all women in this country is the main social problem that is barring any real and viable change from occurring. If Egypt is to see the success of the revolution then women, and violence against them, must be battled at every step. A constitution and election are important. But a country where women live in fear of walking down their streets, anywhere, is not a country that has a bright future.
