Sexual Harassment in Taipei

One thing that I am trying to figure out is if Taipei has a serious sexual harassment issue or not. As a man it is hard to know what women experience in terms of sexual harassment because unless I see it or someone I know tells me about it I wouldn't know whether or not women are being sexually harassed. Also, I recognize that just because I'm not told about it or don't see it doesn't mean it isn't happening. All over Taipei, especially in the metro and on buses, I not only see signs telling men not to sexually harass women but I also see public devices such as whistles and alarms that women can use to alert people that they are being or have been sexually harassed.

This picture is of the whistles that hang about every 5 feet on the buses that can be used to alert others that sexual harassment (or pick pocketing) is taking place.

This sign is on every metro train warning about the evils of sexual harassment. I will say I love how this cartoon guy is extra creepy with is tongue hanging out as he gropes this woman.

I have heard many women in the States tell me their tales of being sexually harassed on public transportation and in bars or clubs and I'm not only talking about verbally but being touch and groped in every place imaginable to the point where I wonder how these dudes aren't getting arrested. I am always surprised because I rarely witness it so it begs the question, how often does this happen and men are just completely unaware of it? Unless you're the creeper who did it.

It is true that men get sexually harassed too. I'm know many of you have heard my story of the girls who came into the men's room when I was at a bar in Baltimore and took turns rubbing my back and commenting and inspecting me as I was at the urinal. It was far from welcomed. That being said I'm sure being harassed happens to women much more frequently.

The question that I am trying to get an answer to is, is sexual harassment so bad in Taipei that all these alarms and posters are necessary to curb the existing behavior or is the city being proactive and putting these measures in place so it never become a problem?