Egypt is infamous when it comes to sexual harassment. Foreign and Egyptian women have difficulties navigating public spaces as well as public transportation without getting unwarranted attention from men. This particularly rampant problem of women experiencing harassment on public transportation was aptly illustrated in Mohamed Diab’s film, 678. Have you ever wondered how it’s like for women to ride the underground system in Cairo? Established in 2007, women have three carriages dedicated to them per entire metro train. Two of of the carriages accommodate women until 9: 00 P.M (recognizable through the green band of writing above the doors) and one that is solely for women at all times (strip band in pink). It is an unfortunate reality that the very same carriage that were meant to protect women, end up causing them the biggest problems. Women in Egypt also have difficulty approaching police officers to ask for help as the latter can be the cause of their troubles in the first place. In one instance, two years ago, a woman was even slapped by a police man for refusing men to get on the women-only carriages. It is thus not uncommon for…
