Move toward the driver, fare collector, or transit security guard if the bus layout permits.
Passengers are packed tightly together, making some level of physical contact unavoidable.
Enhancing the physical security of bus terminals and stops to prevent vulnerable choke points. 3. Public Awareness and Bystander Training encoxada in bus top
If you are researching this topic for policy development, journalism, or academic study, let me know if you would like to explore , statistical data on transit harassment , or sample protocol guidelines for transit workers . Share public link
While historically dismissed as an unfortunate byproduct of overcrowded infrastructure, modern legal frameworks classify encoxada strictly as a crime. Move toward the driver, fare collector, or transit
The term comes from the Spanish encoxar (“to press with the hip or thigh”), and in many Latin American and Spanish cities, it’s a recognized form of street-level sexual harassment. Unlike groping, which requires a hand, encoxada relies on the illusion of accident. The perpetrator—almost always a man—uses sudden braking, curves, or crowd surges to grind against a victim, often while holding a jacket, bag, or newspaper as a visual shield.
This public link is valid for 7 days and shares a thread, including any personal information you added. This link or copies made by others cannot be deleted. If you share with third parties, their policies apply. Can’t copy the link right now. Try again later. The term comes from the Spanish encoxar (“to
In Brazil, encoxada is considered a crime of harassment (Article 215-A of the Penal Code – “importunação sexual”), punishable by 1 to 5 years in prison. However, enforcement on bus tops is rare because:
Poster campaigns and audio announcements explicitly labeling encoxada a crime.
“Encoxada” is a Portuguese/Spanish-derived slang used in some Latin American and Iberian communities to describe unwanted, inappropriate, or aggressive touching—often sexualized—on public transport. In the context of a bus top (the upper deck/roof or crowded bus interior), it typically refers to someone pressing their body, groin, or hands against another person, sometimes under the pretense of crowded conditions.
To understand the keyword "encoxada in bus top," we must listen to survivors (names changed for privacy):