No woman in Cairo is invulnerable to sexual harassment—it is, unfortunately, an inescapable part of daily life in the city. Each woman must develop her own coping mechanisms in order to keep sane, and I happened to stumble on a very therapeutic one—exposing how ridiculous the things men say to us on the streets really are. I’ve compiled a list of the seven most bizarre things that have been said to me while walking Cairo’s streets. Drawing out just how delusional these men are to think that they are the epitome of smooth never fails to deliver an overwhelming sense of satisfaction. 1- يا ابيض “Hey whitey!” Oh, is it because I’m really white? HAHA. GOOD ONE. 2- يا لبن! “Hey gurl with skin that is white, which is incidentally the same color as milk, I am verbally harassing you in a lamentable attempt to assert my masculinity. Please look over this way and react in some form so I can impress my friends and random passerby by humiliating you!” Or alternatively, “Hey milky. Milk. MILK MILK. Miiiiiiiiiiiiiilk.” 3- يخرب بيت حلاوتك! “God break the house of your sweetness!” I don’t…what….
