Lydia Abela recounts bus harassment at 14, urges women not to stay silent

Lydia Abela has shared her experience of being harassed on a bus as a teenager, using the story to highlight the need to empower women to speak up.

The spouse of the prime minister, Lydia Abela, was on the inaugural episode of the new Labour Party media podcast Isma’ Dean, hosted by lawyer and activist Dean Hili.

Abela shared a story about an “episode” that occurred when she was 14 years old while she was on her way to evening classes in preparation for her O-levels.

“I remember there was a man, who was of a certain age, who sat next to me on the bus. I was 14 at the time, in form four, preparing for my O Levels. While he was next to me, he kept passing remarks, and I remember keeping how I felt inside.”

She noted that the other people present on the bus began laughing, but she kept trying to keep it together in front of them.

“I was alone,” she said.

When she got to her destination in Blata l-Bajda, she rang the bell and got off the bus.

“I got off the bus. He kept watching me. I remember I began running and ran all the way to the school.”

Although she told her teacher about what happened, she had never told her parents.

“That experience was something I kept thinking about and something that scared me.”

She implored women to speak up and not to give in to fear when moments like this happen: “We need to get rid of this stigma, this fear, and we need to empower women to speak up”.

'Violence against women'

During the podcast, Abela also spoke about victims of femicide, including Paulina Dembska and Pelin Kaya.

“Despite public speeches in favour of women, despite laws and the inclusion of women in all spheres, we still witness violence against women.”

“I feel very angry: angry because women are still looked at as the weaker gender.”

She said such incidents were a sign that there was still a lot to be done, not just from a legal and policy standpoint, but also by changing society’s mentality towards women.

Towards the end of the episode, Abela shared a word of wisdom for younger female listeners: “Be confident and believe in yourself. Don’t let people confuse you. Don’t let any comments hold you back, and when you get an opportunity, think about it, of course, but take that next step”.

She added that the more women are present in every sector of society, the more likely mentalities will change, and people will see men and women on more equal grounds.