Egyptian women: then and now [Archives:2002/15/Last Page]

Dr. Safaa Hassanin
Spouse of Dr. Khaled ElKomy
Ambassador of Egypt to Yemen
Those who know about the history of Egypt of all its ages realize that women have had an important role in both Ancient and Modern Egypt.
Names like, Hatchibsut, Nefertiti (which means the pretty is coming) and Nefertari (which means the most beautiful among beautiful women), are names of queens who ruled or helped rule old Egypt.
Moreover, the stories of Isis, Osiers and Horus, although they are legendary stories, tell us about the important status and role of ancient Egyptian women.
These legends suggest women in Ancient Egypt were entrusted with planning and running society, protecting national security, and needless to say, raising families and other sacred duties.
Noticing the respected status of women in Ancient Egypt, after Islam came to Egypt, women obtained more rights status thanks to what God gave her through Islam. For example, a woman keeps her economic status. And she keeps her maiden name, unlike many parts of the Western World.
While the status of women in Egypt, both before and after Islam, remained dignified through different ages, here status did weaken, along with other social aspects, during Memlouk and Ottoman empires, which saw political, economic and social poverty all over Egypt.
At the beginning of the 20th Century, Kassem Amin, a social reformist, sparked a movement to liberate Egyptian women from social, cultural, and intellectual oppression.
A few years later, led by Saad Zaghloul, the Revolution of 1919 erupted. Zaghlouls wife Safeya, played an essential role to include the liberation of Egyptian women within the goals of the national revolution.
Since then, Egyptian women have again started to regain their status. With the Revolution of 1952, which considered education As important as water and air, according to Taha Husseins appeal, the Egyptian government secured free education, and medical care for everyone. This enabled Egyptian women to stand next to her husband on equal footing, with fair chances to become a doctor, teacher, researcher, scientist, ambassador or minister with no restrictions.
Education is, in fact, key to liberate. Without, there can be no liberation.
Whats important for women in Yemen to realize is that while its easy to believe many things, what matters is the actions of people and a society. They should understand that as they also seek to find their own fair status.


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