CAIRO — Egypt has gotten no respite from demonstrations and protests by citizens demanding various rights and freedoms. Members from all social groups continue to take part in such demonstrations. The women and girls who participate confront specifically gender-related problems, so they have been taking special care and making arrangements for their safety before they join demonstrations.

Sarah al-Sharif, a human rights activist, has taken part in numerous protests, including prior to the January 25 Revolution. She explained to Al-Monitor that during such marches and gatherings, women face greater physical risks than men. Women not only have to worry about being arrested or hit by police gunfire, but they are also exposed to harassment, and worse, rape, as happened to a number of women on the second anniversary of the revolution. Sharif stresses, however, that these incidents do not stop women from taking to the streets. Rather, they make them more determined to demand their rights.

Sharif shared that she makes certain arrangements before taking part in a demonstration. First and foremost she makes sure that she will not be alone, and therefore is always accompanied by her friends. This allows them to assist one another in case one of them gets hurt. Furthermore, she does not carry a lot of money or an expensive phone, to avoid being robbed.

Moreover, she makes carefully considered decisions regarding the clothes she wears. Sharif chooses loose-fitting clothing to avoid attracting the attention of harassers, and she avoids bright colors so that she does not stand out in the crowd, potentially drawing the attention of police. She usually wears a bodysuit under her clothing to avoid being nude in case she falls down or is sprayed with water by security forces.