Written by: Isra Saleh
Direct messaging (DMs), Mai points out, is often the main channel of interaction with such content due to societal restrictions around discussing sexuality. Thus, many prefer to ask questions privately. Yet these private channels are just as often flooded with unsolicited sexual images and explicit harassment, transforming a supposed educational space into a site of abuse.
In a world where knowledge about the body is restricted and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) are deemed “taboo”, those who attempt to break the silence often become targets of harassment, abuse, and defamation. This pattern is not accidental. It reflects a deeper patriarchal entitlement that treats women’s bodies as publicly accessible and punishes those who claim authority over sexual knowledge.
In Egypt, the issue is intensified as sexuality is tightly interwoven with honour, family reputation, and state-endorsed moral discourse. Accordingly, women SRHR activists challenge a multi-layered patriarchal social construction, including both public and private patriarchal control at the same time. As a result, the challenges they are exposed to extend far beyond scarce resources or social stigma to also include various forms of sexual harassment, abuse, and every tactic to intimidate women who dare to open a serious and scientific discussion about SRHR and push them into silence.
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Digital Sexual Harassment Targets SRHR Activists in Egypt