Birthing a Revolution

Female participation gave the Egyptian revolution momentum
Caitria O’Neill
Between Jan. 25 and Feb. 11, millions of Egyptian women from every social class, profession and creed took part in mass demonstrations against the Egyptian government. The Egyptian Revolution stands near unprecedented in the nation’s history, but the female role within the struggle even more so. Beyond participating, women took an active role in organizing, demonstrating, and supporting the successful revolutionary movement. Pictures of the rallies throughout Egypt show men and women standing shoulder to shoulder, calling for the departure of President Hosni Mubarak and the arrival of democratic reform. Eighteen days of continuous demonstration for democracy and freedom proved enough to bring down the long-time authoritarian president. While an interim council deliberates constitutional amendments, the women of Egypt return home from the protests and consider what will come next. The regime change at hand presents a unique opportunity to fight for and improve women’s status and political representation. If their role in the uprisings offers any suggestion, however, the women of Egypt appear ready to seize their moment.
Old Fight, New Fighters
Egyptian women have a rich history of political activism and participation. Beth Baron, editor of the International Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, explained to the HPR that women of different social classes have participated in numerous protests since the last century. Political activism has helped Egyptian women win basic freedoms, such as the right to unilateral divorce, suffrage, quota-protected representation in parliament, and the criminalization of female genital mutilation. The protests in 2011 nonetheless represent a new depth, breadth, and blending of participation. Previous protests generally involved homogeneous age groups or classes. As Deena Kahlil, Cairo resident and participant in the protests told the HPR, “Women’s activism in Egypt is nothing new. What wasn’t expected, though, was that you didn’t see the same faces that you see at every protest. Instead, you saw a much wider spectrum of women. You saw young girls and mothers, of all socio-economic classes.”
Another important difference in the 2011 Egyptian Revolution was the equal treatment of female protesters by their male counterparts. With no law under the old regime prohibiting gropings, catcalls, or other advances, sexual harassment has run rampant in Egypt. A 2008 survey by the Egyptian Center for Women’s Rights in Cairo found that 83 percent of Egyptian women and 98 percent of foreign women had been harassed at some point. Yousra Aboustait, a young Cairo woman spoke about the difference in treatment in Tahrir Square: “[Women] feel like they can be around and involved without any fear of being bothered or abused. It is like they have finally been given the way to be an equal, effective and important part of society with no constraints or barriers.”
The new respect extended to both living and dead. One of the casualties of the first days of protest in Cairo’s Tahrir Square was a young woman named Sally Zahran. Said Aboustait, “You could find her picture in different areas of Tahrir Square, signed by different people: ‘Sally, the martyr that taught men how men should be.’ I guess this statement summarizes it all.” As such, women not only participated in the protest but also became a source of inspiration. One such woman was Asmaa Mahfouz, a 26 year old woman whose passionate Youtube video encouraging others to join the demonstrations was a catalyst for many Egyptians tired of a corrupt regime.
Finding Their Voice
Egyptian women are by no means obvious revolutionaries. Some of the women who helped organize and lead the movement had been politically involved for years. Most, however, were just beginning to test the waters of activism. As Kahlil told the HPR, “A large majority of the millions of Egyptians that turned out are not political activists. Many of them are not even into politics at all. They showed up out of love for their country and a desire for freedom.”
Professor Roger Owen, Harvard Professor of Middle East History, said that the feeling of empowerment following the success of the revolution would likely contribute to a change in women’s political representation in Egypt. Another Cairo resident, Daria Salama spoke about her decision to become involved in the demonstrations. “I have to stress, that I was never involved in any political or equal rights movement prior to these events. This will definitely change, as I myself have changed as a result. I am just an Egyptian who was enjoying a stable and average life. But like millions of others, I wanted to see life change for the better.”
Reading through Daria’s Facebook page is akin to watching a political coming of age. Her posts were largely quotes from famous poets and authors, until Jan. 25 – the ‘Day of Revolt’. Then she began urging friends and neighbors to attend the protests, posting political articles, videos and statements and sharing her own opinion. In a one post, Daria wrote, “Two weeks ago, I only had the right to ask questions about my own salary and that of my husband. Now I have the right to ask about the president’s and that of the ministers. How’s that for change?”
Impetus for Change?
The legacy of the awakening of political voices will be seen in the months and years to come. Women in Egypt gained the right to vote 34 years after the first Egyptian revolution. In Iran, however, despite their part in bringing down the Shah, women would ultimately face massive steps backwards for equal rights. Likewise, it is important to note that suffrage, while important, is not the only right worth fighting for. Women in Egypt constitute roughly 22 percent of the workforce and 29 percent of private sector jobs, according to a 2007 government report. Women make up a large percentage of university students, and work as doctors, judges and professors. Rather than fearing Islamism or writing off differences as purely cultural or purely political, the West may find that seeking concrete actions can empower women economically and politically. Encouragement of women in business, higher education, reform of family law, and creation of laws against sexual harassment are all realizable steps along this path.
Rather than asking their husbands politely not to forget the ladies, as Abigail Adams did after the American Revolution, the Egyptian women can take steps to ensure they are not forgotten. They have experienced both uncertainty and success in demonstrating for what they believe in. They have organized, blogged, tweeted, and posted videos. More importantly, they have been treated as equals during a defining moment in Egyptian history. Egyptian women are full partners in society, and the revolution has awoken the political voices that can secure more equal conditions in the period of transition to come.