Myths, masterplots and sexual harassment in Egypt

Abstract

Formally a taboo subject, public sexual harassment in Egypt has received increased media attention since the 2011 revolution. The scholarly literature on the topic, however, remains thin, particularly with regard to the social mechanisms that sustain an environment permissive of street harassment. Drawing on the rape myths literature, this article argues that naturalised and stereotyped understandings of the causes and implications of street harassment provide discursive resources to excuse harassers and blame victims for the harassment they suffer. It argues, however, that these understandings are better understood as narrative masterplots to be contested than as myths to be debunked, emphasising that falsity and prejudicial impact must not be conflated. It concludes with recommendations for activism and future research, arguing that it may be more effective to promote alternative interpretive frames than attempt to directly challenge currently dominant understandings.

Las mujeres en alerta por violencia de género en espacios públicos. Comparativo con tres escuelas de educación superior públicas en México

“…Lamentablemente, el estudio teórico de la violación y el acoso sexual en espacios públicos cuenta con discursos que permiten justificar a los acosadores (Sadler, 2019). En consecuencia, el escenario no parece mejorar en relación con la inseguridad en las calles, por lo que ninguna mujer queda libre de ser víctima de feminicidio o desaparición (Guerrera, 2018).…”

Temporality and translation: Thematic and non-thematic narrative

“…My own stance is largely in align ment with the narrat ivist camp (Sadler, 2018(Sadler, , 2019(Sadler, , 2021, and it seems indis put able that the narrative approach-in both vari ants described above-has proven extremely productive over many years and across many different discip lines.…”