The head of the Mexico City transportation system announced today some alarming statistics about the metropolis’s subway system. There is an average of at least one incident of sexual harassment reported to authorities every day.

“…In 5 million trips made from Monday through Friday, there is one complaint per day. We believe that this number is low. There are perhaps 2 or 3 complaints per day that go unregistered because the complaint never gets made, either because [the victim] doesn’t have time or because they are reluctant. That’s why we are encouraging people to report [the incidents],” said Bojórquez.

The head of the system says that measures that are currently being used to curb this trend — like separate cars for women and children — seem to be helping, but there is obviously still a problem.

I remember back in the 80s they tried doing this, then when I lived there in the 90s most people thought it was no longer necessary since supposedly Mexico City society had changed. It hadn’t. I don’t have enough fingers and toes to count how many times it happened to me in 5 years. I had friends and neighbors who always brought a pin with them on the subway to prick the offenders. I guess it hasn’t changed since then, and that’s really sad.

Bojórquez says that these measures will not lifted until sexual harassment on the subway is totally obliterated:

“…when women are no longer victims of violence, when they stop being harassed by men just because they are women and they dress how they dress. When men stop slapping butts, when they stop doing the classic ‘rubbing up’ y they stop bothering and insulting them. Only then, when we men have the civility to respect women totally, can we remove this program. If we do it before then, we are putting them at risk.”

I wonder what’s wrong in Mexican society that makes this such a big problem. I have my theories, but I would like to know the real answer. What do you think?

Via / La Jornada

Imaga via Altamar on Flickr