The Normalization of Harassment in Women’s Public Transport Experiences

A Morning Ride I Can’t Forget

The first time I truly understood how unsafe public transport can be for women, it wasn’t only because of my own experiences  and yes, I’ve been a victim of harassment on public transport too, and I’ve tried to stand my ground when it happened. But witnessing someone else being harassed right in front of me was different. It hit me in a way I wasn’t prepared for.

And I did nothing.

Not because I didn’t care, but because fear, confusion, and shock froze me in place. That silence has stayed with me longer than the memory of the journey itself.

It was early morning, around 6 a.m. My cousin and I had boarded a bus heading home from a weekend concert that had lasted all night. We were exhausted  the kind of tired that sinks into your bones from standing, dancing, and singing all night long.

In front of me sat a young girl who seemed like she had been at the same concert. From her posture to the exhaustion written all over her face, everything about her said she was tired too.

A man old enough to know better came and sat next to her. He was huge, imposing, and looked to be in his forties. As the bus drove along the route, he started harassing her.

It began with a forced conversation. She turned toward the window and said no  clearly, firmly. He ignored it. Her “no” meant nothing to him.

She tried to protect herself the only way she could. She stopped responding. She pretended to sleep, hoping he would finally leave her alone. But he didn’t.

When it was his time to get off the bus, instead of apologizing or backing away, he asked for her phone number as if he hadn’t just spent the entire journey making her visibly uncomfortable.

I wanted to speak up. I wanted to stop him. But I didn’t, because in that moment, I didn’t know what he might do next. And that fear is the same fear so many women carry every single day when they board public transport.

The Conversation That Followed

A few weeks later, while talking with my friends, the topic came up again. What began as a conversation about dreaming of owning our own cars about wanting independence from public transport turned into something deeper. Almost every woman had a story  conductors shouting aggressively, men sitting too close, the anxiety of who might sit next to you, the way we shrink ourselves and stay alert.

Public transport is meant to be a shared space. Yet for many young women, it feels like a space where boundaries disappear.

Silence is not comfort. Silence is strategy. Silence is survival.

This Is Not an Isolated Story

Research by Flone Initiative in Kenya found that 80% of women in Nairobi have experienced sexual harassment while using public transport. UN Women reports that across African cities, public transport remains one of the most unsafe public spaces for women.

This is not just discomfort. It is a barrier to women empowerment and equal participation in society.

The Danger of Normalization

When harassment becomes part of the daily commute, it risks feeling normal and that is dangerous. Normalization creates a culture where perpetrators believe their behavior is acceptable.

No one should have to calculate their safety just to get home.

What Must Be Modified

For Women: Trust your intuition. Create distance when possible. Report harassment where safe systems exist.

For Bystanders: Stay aware. Ask simple questions like, 'Are you okay?' Create distractions when necessary.

For Transport Authorities: Provide clear reporting channels. Train staff on gender-sensitive conduct. Enforce consequences.

The Question We Must Ask

This is not about whether women are becoming too quiet. It is about why women are still expected to endure harassment just to move through their own cities.

How many more journeys must be survived before safety becomes non-negotiable?

SHE Centre is here to help you.

Find your community at SHE Space. You were never meant to do this alone.

Under the SHE Journey Shelf, find downloadable resources and tune into The SHE Podcast to find yourself in someone else’s story.

Connect with our partner organizations who are ready to walk alongside you in this season.

Author: Stella Nthenya