The prostitute complex: Welcome to Egypt, Mr. Freud!

I´ve been warned and asked by egyptian friends to show off a more POSITIVE image of our beloved country. I understand them, I do. I also wish I had positive things to say but here´s what happens: I only write about things I SEE and LIVE personally. If I don´t see positive things happening around me in Egypt - at least, not now- then I cannot make up fictitious events just to make people happy and sell a little more touristic packages to the country of the Pyramids.

I often say that, if Sigmund Freud (the father of psychoanalysis) lived in Egypt in our times - specially after the attempt of a Revolution on January 2011- he would go mad himself or even get a brain tumor. No amount of therapy would save him from clinical madness if he had to observe, live with and try to understand the minds and behaviors of current egyptians.

As I left the gym (covered in my official "adapted abbaya" - a large sack of potatoes that makes me look like a shapeless cow in order to avoid further sexual harassment) and tried to hail a taxi for my return home, I noticed how several cars stopped in front of me, presuming I was a prostitute asking for clients. This happens - every single time I go to the gym - in a crowded zone of Mohandessin, a commercial district where "normal" people circulate and a major mosque (Moustafa Mahmoud) imposes its presence to everyone, muslims and not muslims. 

Just because I am hailing a cab in the street, I am taken as a prostitute and this assumption spreads its dirty wings on many other - apparently innocent - activities and attitudes. Let´s observe:

* If I walk in the street, I am a prostitute;

* If I talk to a man and shake his hand, I am a prostitute or madly in love with him in a way that makes me forget about decency;
*If I refuse to prostitute with my bosses and other powerful men who think every woman has a price, then  I´m treated and called a prostitute (just for the outrage of rejecting these assholes!);
*If, indeed, I would prostitute with the BIG BOSSES, then I would be a real prostitute but TREATED LIKE a QUEEN and FEARED for relating with well connected men who would kick the butt of anyone who dared to play with "their property". 
* If I take two cups of "cappuccino" on my hands it means I have a man staying at my place- therefore, I am a prostitute;
*If I talk face to face to any man as en equal person communicating to another, I am a prostitute;
*If I receive male friends at home, I am a prostitute;
*If I don´t take shit from sexual harassment in the street and fight back those bastards who follow me on their cars, I am a prostitute;
*If I reject to get married to rich "big shots" who underestimate my intelligence and character (and, instead, choose my own boyfriend according to my own standards), I am a prostitute);
*If I live by myself, I am a prostitute;
*If I live with my boyfriend, I am a prostitute;
*If I don´t admit any corrupted officer´s disrespect in the street and make him shut up, I am a prostitute;
*If I ´m a dancer; oh, well...if I am a dancer I am - not only - a prostitute but the DEVIL itself.

And the list continues...I am not Freud but I can tell right away there is something EXTREMELY sick going on around here.
I end up with the conviction egyptians (and arabs as well - both starting to resemble each other in a scary way) have a DEEP  F....ED UP  problem with WOMEN and a FIXATION in PROSTITUTES.

"Dear Watson, I think we have a problem..."