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Groping is touching another person in an aggressively sexual way. Buttocks, thighs and breasts are often groped. When done without permisson or against the will of another person, this can be considered a form of sexual abuse.
Groping women in trains is a widespread phenomenon in Japan. As the suburban trains are usually crowded, bringing the workers to large cities and back to their suburban homes, close physical contact is unavoidable. Many men use this to their advantage, pressing onto women and groping them.
According to one survey, about two thirds of Japanese women between 20-40 years old have been groped on trains or at stations.
Young teenagers (schoolgirls) are also often subject to groping.
Japanese women are less likely to openly react to such abuse than their Western counterparts, probably because of cultural differences.
In the most extreme cases, when a victim is repeatedly harassed in such way, police protection can be assigned to her.
In contrast in crowded Japanese trains, in some Western countries, where suburban and subway trains are less popular, the small number of passengers increases the risks that a lonely woman can be sexually abused, often raped.
The perpetrators are sometimes organised into small teams, with some keeping guard and some groping the victim.
There are some magazines and websites dedicated to groping women in trains, where the perpetrators discuss their favourite pasttime and share experiences.
Groping is a somewhat popular fetish in Japanese pornography.
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