In the midst of storming political, economic and social scene, all topics arise and open up for social discussions and argumentations. Within those and rising sharply are topics about women. Supported by our honorable parliament who seem to be more interested in our genetic systems and sexual inclinations more than our need to eat, drink and live, the topics about women seem to take pretty much of our daily arguments.
For so, and post reading Mona el Tahawy’s feature in Foreign Policy, not only have I been surprised by how brave/blunt the article was but the feedback from Egyptian and Arab women in agreement and many in disagreement.
In Tahawy’s article, honestly I tend to second every bit of how women suffer and strive in order to be put in equivalence or at least an adequate sense of equality socially and professionally. I however disagree on the shallow approach of such article. From someone as renowned and exposed as Tahawi, i expected a deep dive in the challenges Arab women have not only extravagant examples that are placed after each other to give such a terrible perception crowned by a pretty horrific title to the feature.
In the Arab countries, women are only looked up to if they play certain social roles, in fact they are cherished , respected, valued and appreciated if they stick to such roles. The society does put mothers, especially old mothers, in a position of respect and admiration. As well, women are respected as wives and mother in laws. This only translates to Dignity that is directly variable to age. A patriarchal viewpoint I know but quite true. That’s basically because the younger the woman is the closer to a sexual figure she will probably be and thus-unvalued.
Egyptian women specifically have learnt through generations to live within these contexts. They are respected and admired if they play certain roles and if they play other roles they have learnt and made peace with it not to be appreciated. An example here is financial responsibility of households. Almost one third of Egyptian families are supported by the woman (be her wife, mother, sister or daughter) and God only knows the count of those sharing in the financial responsibility. However again, most of those households only refer to the man of the house as the only that is taking full responsibility of the finances. In addition, the woman has to take good care of the household as what the societal demands require her to. The question here would be, do women really need that appreciation? Does the world need to know about what they do? Do they even know that they are doing an extra job and the least to do is to let the world know about it? Well as a feminist I will rush with a “Yes” but within their context, it just doesn’t matter. A woman wouldn’t need to advertise that. A woman would rather need a better opportunity for her partner that’s all. My point is not to judge from one’s own context but rather from the cultural circle of the example you are talking about.
However, a woman’s challenge is basically how the society (which is probably men in her community) would always acquaint her with her sexuality. And thus women are “tabooed” before menopausal age when they are honored and valued. It’s because it had definitely been a long hard journey to reach where she is. Here are some examples:
Have any man thought how hard is it to be a pregnant woman in the streets of Egypt? How insecure any job is for a woman only because of the threat that at a certain point she might expect a baby? Have any man felt how terrible it is to be dressed not only to what the society wants you to but to be safe from a complete stranger finding it funny to touch her body? Have any man been around the streets with babies trying to find them a good parking spot, a seat in the public transportation? Have any man felt how threatening a woman or a mother to feel if the husband just decides to quit a job or smokes with friends at home with babies around? Have any man felt how guilty does a mother feel if she walks around with a baby in the pollution and the baby develops a certain chest allergy?
The Answer is NOPE.
Men in Egypt do not hate women I can argue. Men only need to know women quite closely. That’s what women need. Women do not need to brag about their jobs or their achievements, they just want them easier. Women in Egypt need job security, need day care providers that they can afford, need a street to walk in, need their men to have jobs that offer them insurances and good pay..
Women need a smile sometimes!
What women need is “Bread, Freedom, Social Justice” – Women needed the revolution as much as men did and for the men because men are only their partners in life.
The Revolution shall Resume!
