Sexual Harassment

[Sukerkin]

I read this article on the BBC today and, altho' not massively surprised as I have heard reports of this before, it struck me quite strongly that what is going on here is sexual harassment being used as a tool of oppression:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-19440656

I wonder what the experience of women in the West is like compared to this? For example, I know that the Italians are renowned for their inability to keep their hands to themselves in public. But is there a qualititive difference between some mannerless fellow pinching a womans behind and the sort of mob harassment the article speaks of? In other words, are both affronts to dignity facets of the same thing?

Sidenote: I did consider putting this in the Women Only area of the site but thought it was an issue upon which both sides of the gender divide might have strong opinions.

 

[Big Don]

Arab Muslims tend to have problems with women and freedom. That is generally ignored by women's rights groups in the west.

 

[harlan]

"Said Sadek, a sociologist from the American University in Cairo, says that the problem is deeply rooted in Egyptian society: a mixture of what he calls increasing Islamic conservatism, on the rise since the late 1960s, and old patriarchal attitudes."

My general experience with men, is that if they can get away with it, they will try.

But seriously, (sexual) harrassment is about power dynamics/pecking order.

I don't think this behaviour comes as a surprise. Part culture, and part opportunity. Anonymity, such as crowds, and lawlessless, such as in areas where there has been a breakdown/erosion of control (any war zone). The subway/trains in Japan and Boston are notorious for groping in crowded conditions. You walk on the street past any construction area in America where a group of men are and can count on lewd behaviour. (It's a surpise when there is no harrassment.)

 

[aedrasteia]

Arab Muslims tend to have problems with women and freedom. That is generally ignored by women's rights groups in the west.

evidence for this assertion ??

with respect,

 

[granfire]

evidence for this assertion ??

with respect,

I tend to agree with that assertion.

It seems to have precedent

and when it happens it hardly causes ripples in the west

(not because nobody is interested, but because those sitting at the switches doon't care)

 

[Big Don]

evidence for this assertion ??

with respect,

Google Mavis Leno.

 

[Tez3]

Thinking that Italians pinch girls bums is akin to thinking Jews are tight and the Irish are thick, it's racial stereotyping.

Womens rights groups here at least in this part of the West are very aware of how women are treated in the rest of the world and yes they campaign furiously against the countries that are worst. The most recent campaign was for a young girl in Pakistan who had been arrested for 'blasphemy', the upshot of that one was that her accuser has been arrested for planting eveidence on her.

http://www.amnesty.org/en/womens-rights
http://www.workersliberty.org/story/2011/11/24/campaigning-womens-rights-iraq
http://www.freedomhouse.org/issues/womens-rights
http://middleeastwomensrights.blogspot.co.uk/
http://www.unwomen.org/2012/04/womens-empowerment-in-the-middle-east-and-worldwide/
http://www.globalfundforwomen.net/i...movements-in-the-middle-east-and-north-africa


There's a lot more groups as well.