Egypt and Feminism

Aris Kaleps-Clark

Women in Egyptian History

Two main areas of focus:Rulers and RoyaltyWomen in Society

Rulers

Throughout all dynasty’s, up until Alexander the Great, only four women ever took the mantle of Pharaoh.– Queen Nitokerty– Queen Sobekneferu– Queen Hatshepsut– Queen Tausret

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Queen Hatshepsut

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Royalty

Queen KentkausQueen Iput IQueen TiyeQueen NefertitiQueen Nefertari

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Queen Nefertiti

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Women in Society

MarriageChildbirth & MotherhoodRightsWomen at Work

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Changes in Egyptian Society

War-– French Conquest and Napoleon

Bonaparte• Reform-

-Muhammad Ali and Egyptian reform

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Egypt 1919-2010

Egyptian Feminist Union (1923-1939)– Comparable to the first wave in American

Feminism– Focused on education, social welfare, and

changes in private law in order to provide equality between Egyptian men and women.

– Critiqued as being to charity based and primarily run by the middle to upper classes.

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Egypt 1919-2010

Post WWII Feminism:– 1942 Foundation of the Egyptian Feminist

Party– The Bint El-Nil (daughter of the Nile) was

another feminist association created in 1948.

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Egypt 1919-2010

In 1952 after a military coups, all political parties were disbanded and the Nasserist regime took control.

However, in 1956, the constitution was amended for women to vote and hold political office.

Post-Naasserist government, radical groups once more started to form and feminism once more was off and rolling. New groups were formed, with different missions in pursuing justice and equality.– New Woman Group– Committee for the Defence of Women and Family

Rights– The Progressive Women's Union – Women’s Secretariat of the Labor Party– The New Woman Research Centre and Bint El Ard

(Daughter of the Land) Association5

Egyptian Feminisms

Secular Feminism:– Firmly believe in grounding their discourse outside

of all religion, Muslim, Christian or otherwise, instead focusing on international human rights.

Muslim Feminism:– Focus on the equality of men and women as

dictated in holy texts. Also try to find common ground between sociopolitical and cultural realities according to Islam and human rights.

Islamist Feminism:– Strives for a society that recognizes and respects

the compatibility between the sexes instead of competition.

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Revolution in Egypt

In January of 2011, protests began in Egypt to remove dictator Hosni Mubarak.

Many Egyptian women took part in the protests and rallied for the resignation of Mubarak.

On February 11, 2011, Mubarak stepped out of power and fled the country.

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Closing Thoughts

Egypt has a rich history, being one of the first civilizations on this planet. Their struggles have shaped nations. Now, their revolution has inspired millions. As this country creates a new government, perhaps we will see great change come in terms of sex and gender equity.

Work Cited

(6)"Egypt." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 03 Apr. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypt>.

(5)"Feminism in Egypt." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 03 Apr. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feminism_in_Egypt>.

(3)Hatshepsut Statuette. Photograph. Mueseum of Fine Arts, Boston. Wikipedia. Web. 03 Apr. 2011. <http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/11/Hatshepsut.jpg>.

(1) Hawass, Zahi A., and Suzanne Mubarak. Silent Images: Women in Pharaonic Egypt. New York: Abrams, 2000. Print.

Karam, Azza M. Women, Islamisms and the State: Contemporary Feminisms in Egypt. Basingstoke, Hampshire: Macmillan [u.a., 1998. Print.

(4)Nefertiti. Photograph. Neues Museum. Wikipedia. Web. 03 Apr. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nofretete_Neues_Museum.jpg>.

(2)Queen Hatshepsut. Photograph. Wikipedia. Web. 03 Apr. 2011. <http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/11/Hatshepsut.jpg>.