The article I chose to
read this week is about Egypt’s upcoming election and how women may not have a
voice in governmental decisions. Author Ursuala
Lindey begins the article by reflecting upon the protests against then
President Hosni Mubarak this past January.
In Tahrir Square women were out in full force, protesting for their rights
along with men. Women and men stood together to
fight to overthrow the dictator. After he was
overthrown the semblance of unity that once untied the men and women disappeared.
Women were no longer welcome at protests for governmental change and if they
showed up, they risked being harassed and heckled. Some women who slept over in
Tharir Squarred ruing the protests were given such indignant tests as “virginity”
tests.
As time goes the situation for women in becomes even more
worrisome. They are severely underrepresented in Parliament; during Murbarak’s
rule it was mandated that there were 64 seats that must be filled by women.
Currently there is only one woman in Parliament meaning the 64 seats rule of
the past is no longer in effect. It does not seem likely that many women will
be elected into Parliament because it is a widely accepted belief that men are
wiser than women. Amongst the women of Egypt there are varying opinions on
whether or not women should be governmental leaders. The difference in opinions
seems to be based on generational differences. Besides this the women agree
that there needs to be more gender equality throughout their country. A group
that has been implemental and constant in fighting against Egypt’s dictator has
been a group called the Brotherhood. Not only has the Brotherhood opposed
Murbarak’s regime but they also made sure to have female representation amongst
their rank. This is because women play a key role in the amount of weight the
Brotherhood carries in Egypt.
Another institution within Egypt that needs to change is
the justice department. Divorce and custody battles are hard to win when a
system is so biased against women. Even when a woman says that her husband has
been abusive to her and/or her kids, she must provide proof to back up her
claims. With the momentum of the revolution, some men are seeking to overturn
the gains women have made in marriage and custody.
I agree with just about every issue mentioned in this
article; Women in Egypt are locked in a desperate struggle for freedom.
Freedoms we m might take for granted here in America, others have to fight
tooth and nail for. One of my main issues is the contradictive nature of some
of the traditions versus legal proceedings.
For instance, it is a woman’s role in society to raise her children, yet
when women seek custody of their children in divorce cases, even in instances
of abuse, they run the very high risk of losing their children. It is
incongruent to say that a woman’s place is to raise her family yet take away
her children when she seeks to escape a desperate situation. I think that if
there isn’t any type of voice for women in Parliament, the rights they have
fought to gain may be stripped from them.
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