For most people, it’s just an inconvenience. But for millions of women and LGBTQ+ individuals in Latin America and beyond, that crowded space can become a silent trap. That trap has a name: . What is Encoxada? The word comes from the Catalan encorjar (to press) or the Spanish encoger (to shrink). In everyday slang, encoxada refers to the act of a person—almost always a man—pressing his genitals against a woman’s body without consent in a crowded public space, such as a bus, subway, or train.
Because the opposite of encoxada isn’t just empty trains. It’s a public where every body is safe, seen, and believed. Have you experienced or witnessed encoxada? Sharing stories (anonymously) helps break the taboo. Leave a comment below or reach out to local transit safety groups in your city.
But here is what the dictionary won’t tell you: Encoxada is not an accident. It is not "the bus being too full." It is a deliberate, predatory act disguised by chaos.