Kolena Laila: Sorry
Part of the Kolena Laila day.
I had an attack attack last night at 2 am.
What if it happened to me?
What brought it on was something my aunt had mentioned earlier about the mass sexual harassment that happened this eid (again). She was giving the recount of the girl (victim) that had fled the scene and what the monsters had done to her and how she’d gotten away (I have no name for them other than monsters that have been stripped of their humanity to say the least)
As usual I had neatly folded feelings that had surged through me and put it away at the farthest corner of my mind. I really didn’t want to think about it or talk about it with anyone ….not even myself …my subconscious is unfortunately a lot smarter and stronger than my conscious mind
All I could think of is what are we to do as young women? Working living and moving around in Egypt (since we are always the first to be blamed for harassment) I asked myself this question although almost 60 % of women in Egypt are veiled why has that not stopped the monsters? Some of the victims were actually wearing niqab. Why? Why? Why? I feel like banging my head against a wall why is it even an issue what a girl is wearing?
There is a major human rights violation happening in my own backyard and I’m even considering remotely that it might be the women’s fault; shame on me.
I’m sorry I’m confused and sad and angry and afraid for me and for all the girls around me. My friends my family, the girls I don’t know walking on the streets minding their own business
Is it wrong that the girls (victims) refuse to come forward and report? What would I do (God forbid this happen to anyone) would I come forward? Would I stand up for my right and fight for justice and protecting others from the same ill fate? Would I run away? Would I want to die on the spot?
I hate to think about it, but I’d definitely run away I wouldn’t be able to face it or risk it I’d run as far away as I could from everything and anyone I’d leave my life behind I’d burn all the bridges and start anew hoping I wouldn’t ever have to face it again.
Now I can’t help thinking about Youssra and the Ramadan series last year “A case of public opinion” (kadeyet ra2y 3am). I personally thought she was over doing it at the time but now I see her in a new light with more respect she was making a point she was talking about the big bad black wolf long before we even acknowledged it’s existence maybe we should talk about these issues maybe the girls should step forward maybe we should learn to protect them as a society
Maybe it’s not such a bad thing to demand to be able to carry weapons for our own protection why not carry mace and spray it at aggressors why not carry stunt guns why are they illegal?? They only paralyze for a few minutes they don’t cause any permanent damage why aren’t women allowed with permits to carry them? Is this what we should be demanding or should we be demanding protection from the government? Does the government have the resources to protect us from the every day harassment happening on our streets?
And what in God’s name possesses these “things” to harass women in bulk?? I still can’t believe that such a large group of men would randomly meet and simultaneously agree and act on such an unethical, immoral and not to mention illegal act. For what? For some kicks?
I think of them and I’m speechless
My heart is breaking for all those girls I’m sorry to all of you we talk about you we blame you we wonder about you we wish we never have to be you but we never say it…we are sorry .
I’m sorry.
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2 comments:
I totally agree, but the question still is; what can we do to change this situation? I don't think the governemt can really change people's behavior overnight, this is one problem that needs to be handled collectively, from raising children who understand sexual harassment, do not participate in it and know what to do if they are faced with it, to stronger laws and enforcement by the government.
So, yes....I agree with every word you said except for the percentage of women walking around the streets that are veiled. Women, veiled, naked or in everyday clothes are in no way a contributing factor to how the men behave.
Let's look beyond what we see. Father of kids lives in a one bedroom flat with his wife. His peanut pay forces him to get on the bus and stand for 1.5hours till he gets to his job where he's greeted by a boss that takes advantage of every right he has and may not have. The man takes the trip back home, to be greeted by his wife, that has stopped caring for herself. 6 kids running around that have been yelled at (at least) by their teachers. the kids finally get into their "beds" and the husband sleeps with his wife in their presence. It's bound to happen that one of his teenage boys will notice what's going on at some point.
What should stop this boy 5 years later and 100 melody "erotic" videos later not to rape a woman....be it veiled or not...
The shit rolls down the hill....
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