When combined with the phrase (referring to a crowded bus, often a bus top or articulado ), the term takes on a sinister specificity. For the uninitiated, "encoxada" (from the verb encoger , meaning to shrink or huddle) is colloquially used by aggressors to describe the act of pressing one’s genitals against a victim’s body in a crowded space. In reality, this is not an accident; it is a form of sexual harassment.
By: Urban Safety Observer
This article explores what "encoxada in bus top" means, why it is a systemic issue, how to identify it, and—most importantly—how victims and bystanders can respond. The word originates from the Catalan and Spanish term encoxar-se , which literally means "to squeeze into a corner" or "to press against." Historically, it was used to describe the natural pushing and shoving of a packed bus. However, over the last two decades, activists and law enforcement have redefined the term to expose a predator’s tactic. encoxada in bus top