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The Illusion of Egyptian Women’s Safety at University

August 27, 2022
Cairo University Campus. Photo Credit: Michael Gallagher via Flickr

On a crisp winter Cairo day, before the first COVID-19 quarantine struck, I got catcalled during my second undergraduate semester, by a group of male students, on campus. I had almost exclusively worn oversized sweaters back then — not that any outfit justified incidents of harassment. My reaction was immediately to drown out the world, pop my earphones in, and fast-walk, as I had been taught, away from the premises. Reporting the incident never crossed my mind. How could I? With no witnesses, I could not even remember anything about the men except that more than one wore blue. Who would believe their word over mine? These thoughts were far from new. Throughout the 21 years of my life, I have learned much about surviving in Egyptian society. This knowledge, consisting of observations and advice accumulated across the years, have become basic instincts to navigating life as a young woman. It is only lately that I have begun doubting whether they can be enough anymore. 101 Advice for Avoidance Deciphering which places I could be myself and thrive, which places I could merely exist, and which I could not be…


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