Gender Segregation as Sexual Harassment

Tel Aviv University Law Review, Vol. 35, 703-746 (2013)

44 Pages Posted: 30 Dec 2011 Last revised: 22 Oct 2013

See all articles by Zvi H. Triger

Zvi H. Triger

Striks Faculty of Law, College of Management

Date Written: April 1, 2011

Abstract

The Article argues that gender segregation in Israel is in fact a form of sexual harassment under Israeli Law. Section 3(a)(5) of the Israeli Prevention of Sexual Harassment Law of 1998 defines sexual harassment also as “[a]n intimidating or humiliating reference directed towards a person concerning his sex/gender or his sexuality, including his sexual orientation.” Analyzing the case of gender segregation in public transportation in certain cities in Israel, I argue that forcing women to sit in the back of the buses constitutes “an intimidating or humiliating reference directed towards” their sex/gender or their sexuality, and thus sexual harassment. I also argue that the current rising Jewish religious fundamentalism, with its relatively new demands for gender segregation (bus segregation began in 1997) is paradoxical in the sense that its motivation is to erase female sexuality, but by being so preoccupied with women’s “modesty” it in fact puts their sexuality at the center of attention. Therefore, gender segregation is not only sexual harassment; it is also a self-defeating concept from the religious point of view as well.

Note: Downloadable document is in Hebrew.

Keywords: Gender Segregation, Sexual Harassment, Israel, Women, Feminism, Discrimination, ultra-Orthodox, multi-culturalism

Suggested Citation

Triger, Zvi H., Gender Segregation as Sexual Harassment (April 1, 2011). Tel Aviv University Law Review, Vol. 35, 703-746 (2013), Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1977651

Zvi H. Triger (Contact Author)

Striks Faculty of Law, College of Management ( email )

7 Yitzhak Rabin Blvd.
P.O. Box 25072
Rishon LeZion, 75190
Israel
972-3-963-4138 (Phone)

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