Meet Maisaa Bazlamit, a 22 year-old journalist, who tells the BBC how safe she feels on a night out in her city of Ramallah
As it turns out, not very. (hat tip: George).
Thursday is the big night out for me in Ramallah. I like to go wherever there is good music and good company. I like drinking shots – fewer calories, instant effect.
I love to dance, so I never wear heels. I like to make a statement with what I am wearing. As Oscar Wilde put it, you can never be over-dressed or over-educated.
It’s almost impossible to walk in downtown Ramallah and not get hassled”
There’s a thin line between sexy and slutty. Cross that line and you won’t be taken seriously, but you will certainly get the attention. But then again, who gets to define the borders?
I’d be lying if I said I don’t enjoy the attention of men – but only from certain people. I don’t mind getting attention from open-minded people, but they make up only 20% of Ramallah, if not less. However, getting it from the [others] is rather repulsive to me and upsets me a lot.
It’s almost impossible to walk in downtown Ramallah and not get hassled. [Some] guys take it upon themselves to make walking in Ramallah for women like walking through hell. I’ve had so many bad experiences, I don’t even know where to begin.
I do walk on my own at night, but not without constantly looking over my shoulder, and sometimes even pretending to be on the phone with my father whenever I see a group of guys walking near me.
Damn Zionist Sex GumTM!
