Ester Meerman

Tuesday, 4 December 2012

How to survive Tahrir square as a woman

With the watch towers and the organising of ‘bodyguards’, some people are finally attempting to address the ever increasing sexual assaults on women in Tahrir square. It’s a start, but unfortunately the square is still a very volatile place for a woman.

I’ve been walking around on Tahrir since the first days of the revolution and here are a few ‘rules’ I’ve picked up along the way that seem to minimize harassment. Most of them may seem fairly obvious, but you’d be surprised at how many females I meet that are completely oblivious to these simple measures. So here goes:

* A disproportionate amount of sexual assaults seem to take place on Mohammed Mahmoud street, near the Hardee’s and Pizza Hut. The area in front of the Mogamma also appears to be a hot spot. So, as a first rule: avoid those areas.

* Another obvious one: do not go to the square on your own after dark. I still wonder around Tahrir on my own in the daytime, but never after sunset. That’s when most assaults happen.

* When walking up to the square, take note of the atmosphere. Are there many guys staring at you, paying attention to you? Is there a disproportionate amount of cat-calling? If so, that is a sign to be extra careful. Also, if the amount of cat-calling, staring and grabbing increases as you walk along, something is obviously up, so make you sure get out as soon as possible.