The Self-Defeating Nature of “Modesty”— Based Gender Segregation

Gender segregation in Israel, particularly on public transportation, constitutes sexual harassment under Israeli law and is self-defeating from the perspective of Orthodox religious principles. The study argues that such segregation, enforced by ultra-Orthodox communities, creates an intimidating or humiliating environment for women, violating Section 3(5)(a) of the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Law. Despite its intention to 'clean' the public sphere of female sexuality, this focus paradoxically centralizes women's sexuality in attention. The research analyzes cases like segregated buses and the Western Wall, where women face verbal and physical abuse for non-compliance with modesty rules. It highlights the legal and social contradictions of these practices, which, despite being framed as 'voluntary,' often lack alternatives and disproportionately affect women.

Triger. (2013). The Self-Defeating Nature of “Modesty”— Based Gender Segregation. Israel Studies, 18(3), 19. https://doi.org/10.2979/israelstudies.18.3.19