While the term can sometimes be used colloquially to describe the accidental bumping and grinding of a crowded commute, it often carries a much more serious connotation related to unsolicited physical contact and harassment. What is an "Encoxada"?
Perpetrators rely on plausible deniability. The bus hits a pothole; the train brakes suddenly. In a real encoxada , the abuser will: encoxada in bus
In many US or European cities, the equivalent act (groping in a crowd) is often charged as "forcible touching" or "sexual battery." However, the specific nuance of friction without grabbing is a gray area. This is why the term encoxada is so powerful—it names an act that many legal systems ignore. While the term can sometimes be used colloquially
Enc-oxada, also spelled "encoxada," is a term used in some Latin American countries, including Mexico, to describe a form of street harassment where a person, usually a man, intentionally touches or brushes against a woman's body, often in a sexual manner, on public transportation or in crowded areas. The term literally translates to "hip thrust" or "jerk," which refers to the perpetrator's actions of thrusting their hips or pelvis against the victim's body. The bus hits a pothole; the train brakes suddenly
Studies have shown that enc-oxada is a common experience for many women on public transportation. A survey conducted in Mexico City found that over 70% of women reported experiencing some form of street harassment, including enc-oxada, while using public transportation. Similar studies in other Latin American countries have reported similar findings.
This is where the keyword search becomes critical for different audiences. Depending on where you are, an encoxada falls under different legal categories.
Preventing enc-oxada on public transportation requires a multifaceted approach that involves government agencies, transportation providers, and the community at large. Some strategies that can help prevent enc-oxada include: