"Encoxada" is a Portuguese term that has gained prominence in Brazil to describe a specific type of sexual assault that occurs in crowded public spaces, most notably on buses and the metro. It refers to the act of a person, typically a man, rubbing his genitals against another person (almost always a woman) without their consent for the purpose of sexual gratification. In many cases, the aggressor may even ejaculate on the victim. While the term is widely used in Brazil, similar practices exist globally under different names: “chikan” in Japan, “frotteurism” as a clinical diagnosis, or simply “groping” in many other parts of the world. The core element is the non-consensual, sexually motivated contact.
Relying solely on passenger coping mechanisms is not enough to solve urban transit issues. Municipalities and transit authorities must continuously invest in structural upgrades to reduce crowding: encoxada in bus top
However, in the context of the definition shifts dramatically from "accidental jostling" to intentional sexual harassment. It refers to a perpetrator (often called an encoxador ) who uses the natural swaying, stopping, and density of a bus to rub their genitals or pelvis against a victim—usually a woman—without consent. "Encoxada" is a Portuguese term that has gained
: Perpetrators exploit packed spaces where physical contact is inevitable, making it difficult for the victim or bystanders to immediately distinguish between an accident and deliberate harassment. While the term is widely used in Brazil,