Egypt’s Sexual Harassment + Revolution Analysis!

It is widely accepted that the above Hierarchy of Needs explains why most of us do what we do and when we do it.  For the first four levels everyone also agrees, I think, that we need to fulfill our needs on each level before moving up to the next level.   If you find the above technical….it is easily explained.

Imagine you, YOU (if you are to really get this you need to close your eyes and not only think about the following but really IMAGINE yourself in the following situation….ok?  Imagine you, YOU are completely naked, standing (or most likely huddled in some corner) in the street, you haven’t eaten in a week.  So you are starving, naked, homeless, dirty, alone.  What is the first thing you WANT, really, really want?  If you have really put yourself in this situation in your mind you will answer “FOOD!”  Food is the first thing you want.  What is the second thing you want?  CLOTHES, not for modesty but to protect and keep your body warm.  Next thing you want is shelter.   You HAVE to go to the toilet also (mustn’t forget that!).  The next most basic instinct we all have is for SEX!

So those guys (married, single it doesn’t matter – if the guy is married maybe he is not getting much sex from the wife!), those guys catcalling, hooting, making sexy, lewd comments to girls (and remember in Egypt sexual harassment happens to all ages and it doesn’t matter whether the females are veiled or not) are SEXUALLY FRUSTRATED at the time in their lives when their male hormones are rampant and they are in their prime!  It is like trying to keep a hungry lion in the kitchen and forbidding him to eat!  The hormones are alive and well in the ladies also and, veiled or unveiled, the art of seduction is second nature.  We all know that sex is taboo, forbidden before marriage and can cost a man or woman their lives here in Egypt if found breaking that taboo.   I have no solution for this tug of war.  We have covered the basic needs of every human being – this is First Level.

Now, since I am talking mostly about Egypt we are just going to have to let the subject of SEX hanging in mid-air and unresolved……as we move to the next level.

Second Level humans want security and safety – security of job, housing, family, good health, property ownership, security of morality (actually I think Saudi Arabia have morality police) Religions impose and police public morality.  Have you ever thought about how easy it is for people getting regular sex to tell everyone else they shouldn’t be havin’ it?!

Third level we want our own family, someone to love and be loved by (as distinct from just physical sex we talked about on the first level)  So, here in Egypt sexual frustration is apparent in the sexual harassment.  For those lucky enough to have the other basic needs of the first two levels supplied ie food, shelter, family, work and good health, their most pressing need is to GET MARRIED thereby taking care of both the sexual problem from the first level and addressing the needs of the third level for love, family, children, own home.  Now here’s the next biggest problem.  The guy has got to provide the apt. or house, half the furniture, the dowry and convince the lady’s family that he can financially provide. These are the obstacles he has to overcome in order to satisfy his remaining level 1 need (sex) and his Level 3 needs.

Fourth level on the pyramid is Self-Esteem and to be held in respect and esteem by others, confidence, creativity and a sense of achievement.

And so on and so forth anyone who thinks they are above this level can just go look up the rest of the pyramid yourselves as I am going on to answer the questions I asked in the beginning.

Catering too much to the wrong level……not a good idea whether it is the top or the bottom level.  Right now they are trying to cater to the demands of Level 4 as they are the most vocal level, and as I said this level is not in a position where they need to be worried about the economy – just yet!