Why Sexual Harassment in Egypt?
These days, every time you turn on the television or flick through the pages of a newspaper or social media, you learn about the victims of sexual harassment from women in Egypt. But what is the most effective method of dealing with the rising sexual harassment rate in our society? Some people believe the best way to punish criminals is to sentence them to time in prison. I completely disagree with this idea and in this essay I will support my opinion with examples. And for sure sexual harassment exists in many countries all over the world, but in my country, sexual harassment is so rampant, even though the Egyptian revolution that many activists from women have taken part significantly to make it happen.
Firstly, from the outset of civilization, woman who has created civilization by creates agricultural techniques that saved human beings from food shortages. So, the matriarchy (social organizational form in which the mother or oldest female heads the family) was the social system in this time, and the culture as an ideology (system of ideas) was favor of woman. But later, man rebelled against this social system and changed to patriarchy (social system in which: males hold primary power; males predominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege and control of property; and, in the domain of the family) that was favor of man against woman, and this social system was supported by Islamic fundamentalism in Egypt that controls all bodies in the country through education system, Al-Azhar and mass-media. In other words, Islamic fundamentalism promotes patriarchy which is a part of the Egyptian culture. As a result man sees any woman as a lower person and this lead to sexual harassment.
Another reason to support my whole idea about existence sexual harassment in Egypt noticeably is that there are many idioms and expressions of Egyptian traditions and customs which are opposite to woman’s rights and in favor of man, these idioms and expressions as a part of Egyptian culture, picture woman as a sexual method for man, and therefore is acceptable to man has sexual relationships before marriage bur woman not. In addition to that, these expressions consider man is better than woman and also man is rational whereas woman is intuitive. For that reason, it is predictable to see sexual harassment anywhere because man needs to have sex with woman without her permission, in this cause man see it is his right and can do it anytime and anywhere as a privilege.
What’s more, the article two of the Egyptian constitution is; the principles of Islamic sharia are the main source of legislation. And the sharia law (Qur’an, hadith and Islamic jurisprudence) of course in favor of man not woman. So, the legal and political system of Egypt supports man to take control lots of leading jobs, rather woman. For this reason, there is absence of equality in the political atmosphere based on sharia law. Consequently, woman’s picture to man is helpless human being and needs to protection from man.
On the other hand, there is an argument that prison can help to deter offenders to do it again or any man to do sexual harassment in the future. The former interim president of Egypt Adly Mansour changed panel code to combat sexual harassment by more punishment against men. However, this phenomenon still exists and nothing happened to even reduce this extremely bad phenomenon in Egypt.
In conclusion, although it is a common belief that prison is the only best way to tackle this issue, I believe it is not the solution and the majority of criminals do it again. Personally, I think culture should be changed in favor of secularization and enlightenment to support woman as happened in the west.