Misogynistic ‘Estargel’ Campaign Takes over Egyptian Streets
A campaign called ‘Estargel‘ (Man Up) has been going viral on social media, after its street banners started making a strong appearance on the streets of Egypt. The banners/campaign basically ask men to man up, specifically by stop their women from wearing tight clothes.
The campaign’s Facebook page sadly has over 17,000 followers. Instead of asking men to man up and not harass women, regardless of what these women are wearing; or to man up and raise a son who will grow to respect females; or to man up and not give yourself the right to slut-shame women; this campaign is actually asking men to change and control the way women dress. This way it will be easier for men to control their urges, and show respect towards women.
The ‘Estargel we matlabessh banatak me7aza2’ message has also religiously justified its cause by claiming that those who do not feel jealous over their women, will not go to heaven. The campaign allegedly has no official organizing team, and is accepting donations, as stated in the screenshot shown below. According to this screenshot, the campaign simply involves group of men making their own banners and hanging them around the streets. Apparently, men will find more appropriate women for marriage if women are wearing looser clothing.
Men controlling what women wear in Egypt is nothing new. We will not act all surprised that this mindset exists; it is just a whole other thing when there is a campaign dedicated to promoting such sexism. Indeed, this campaign has sexual harassment justification, female objectification, and rape culture written all over it. It is really sad that in 2017, women are still being publicly objectified and slut-shamed.