Page 156 - April Issue

mama me-time | food for the soul
The women of Tahrir
Across the world, images of Cairo and other cities in
Egypt reached millions of people.Whether Egyptian,
Muslim,Arab or of other background and nationality,
we have been touched by the events that unfolded
during the few weeks following January 25.
mother, baby & child April 2011 E specially in the Middle
East and the Arab
world, men occupy the
biggest part of the political
scene. But how do women
of Egypt live the protests
and changes happening in
their country? Experts say
that the number of women
participating in the revolution
is unprecedented. Whether
they are demonstrating in the
streets with their fellow citizens, own. Egypt is a harsh place for
or taking care of their family at
home, let us have a look at the
feminine side of the Egyptian
revolution that saw the end of
President Mubarak’s regime.
Within the Muslim
world, the status of Egyptian
women is considered enviable.
They can drive cars, dress
in secular fashion, attend
university. But there are also
domestic violence, workplace
156
discrimination, restricted
legal rights and a dramatic
underrepresentation in
leadership roles. Egypt is
ranked 120 out of 128 countries
in Gender Equality by the World
Economic Forum Global Gender
Gap Report. In the political
life, as well as in the economy
of the country, they are highly
undermined. Women still feel
that they cannot stand on their
lonely women; and there are
many in this country, where
salaries do not suffice for a
whole family to live with dignity. their everyday life, at work,
Many men leave their families
behind to go find a better work
in distant lands. A widow or a
divorced woman can be victims
of harassment and criticism,
regardless of what put them in
their situations.
Many Egyptian women
took part in the 2011 revolution
in many different ways.
For the first time, women
accounted for almost half of
the population gathered on
Tahrir Square in the days that
led to the fall of Mubarak.
Muslims and Christians, young
and old, veiled or not, women
were seen, side-by-side with
Egyptian men, fighting for
freedom and recognition. The
Egyptian people is striving
for respect and dignity, which
are often denied to them in
in the street, and women are
particularly prejudiced and
deprived of opportunities.
Some women did not hesitate
to go down in the streets
from the first demonstrations,
and they gave courage to the
women who were afraid and