An application of the ecological model to sexual harassment in informal areas of Cairo, Egypt.

This article examines the root causes and prevalence of street-based sexual harassment—a form of gender-based violence (GBV)—in informal areas of Greater Cairo, Egypt, using an adaptation of the ecological model. Drawing on qualitative interviews and focus groups with youth, parents, and community leaders, alongside a 2016 representative survey of youth in informal Cairo neighborhoods, the study finds harassment to be widespread, with victim-blaming attitudes focused on women's behavior and dress prevailing at the individual level. Community and societal factors, including patriarchal norms, stigmatization of victims, inadequate law enforcement, and unsafe physical environments, further perpetuate harassment and inhibit reporting. The authors argue that effective interventions must operate across multiple ecological levels, targeting peer and community norms, improving institutional responses, and addressing harassment in schools, rather than relying solely on awareness-raising or punitive legal measures.