What Can Women Really Do When Sexually Assaulted?

Did you know that you can actually sue someone for catcalling?

I didn’t, until this week when I attended a training session with HarassMap about the steps and precautions women should take in case of sexual harassment.

Last week, I wrote an op-ed about sexual harassment within an Egyptian context, and urged women to speak-up.

I was not really at ease with the fact that the only viable solution I could offer to help myself and other women feel more protected was to speak up, without really knowing what do afterwards.

HarassMap offered a list of steps to follow in case of sexual assault.

Whether physical, verbal, virtual, or through whichever means, an act is considered harassment if it was unwelcomed by the recipient.

Sexual harassment can include something as simple as unwanted attention even through text messages, especially if this attention is clearly refused.

To my surprise, there are Egyptian laws that punish sexual harassment, and not just laws for rape.

According to Egyptian law, you can actually fine a guy for just catcalling you in the street. In fact, any unwelcomed violation could earn the harasser at least six months in prison, or a fine that is not less than EGP 3,000.

Of course, I cannot deny my skepticism about how these laws will be enforced, because we have been used to words and slogans, little room for action.

It’s also just a little unrealistic and impractical for women to stop and sue every single man that violates them at least verbally. Hands down, they will spend entire weeks in the courts.

And then there are the complexities of proving the violations, and finding someone for support.

But at least, there’s somewhere to start.

Knowing that there are such laws, we now have a stronger motive to speak up. HarassMap also emphasized the vitality of trying to get witnesses to support you in court.

And by support, I don’t mean breaking the assailant’s legs.

HarassMap says women should advise their witnesses (and supporters) to avoid using violence against the harasser because then that provides the latter with an opportunity to file an assault charge of their own.

Needless to say that violence should never be the solution, but the previous point is a bit too idealistic. What if the woman panics and fights back? Isn’t she entitled to self-defense, too?

This is not to say that it’s okay to use violence against criminals at all. But sometimes, having the neighbourhood fight a harasser comes off so much easier than pursuing him through the halls of the court system.

It’s important to file a case anyway, even if it does not have enough evidence to rule against the harasser. Multiple incomplete cases can compile a record for them later on, and then they might eventually get punished.

Despite all these instructions, HarassMap repeatedly emphasized that women should not feel guilty if they weren’t able to react properly at the moment.

Sure, it’s okay to feel overwhelmed and freeze. We’re humans at the end of the day. But it is also okay to prepare ourselves to react when these types of incidents occur.

Maybe you can’t fight today. Maybe you can’t fight tomorrow. But we have to start fighting back someday.

It has nothing to do with you. It is never your fault. It is never about what you are wearing. It is all about the patriarchy.

It is a form of projecting power, just because they can. And for that, we shall never remain silenced.