Apr 7, 2012
What is the role of a woman in the Egyptian society? Are men and women as equal as they were in ancient times? Or have things changed since then? These were the questions posed in the nineteenth century causing many disputes on this subject.
Eventually, the controversy was solved by the Egyptian Constitution in 1971where it provided equality between men and women. Under its 8th article, the State guaranteed equality of opportunity for all citizens. Article 40 further stipulated that all citizens were equal before the law and in regard to their public rights and obligations, without discrimination on the grounds of sex.
As usual, easier said than done, as in reality some women still feel victimized by the society. If at first women were privileged with an equal social status, they now have slightly deteriorated in several fields including education, employment and marriage.
“It took me six months to convince my father to let me complete my education.”* – Says Omnia Abd Elsalam, a local resident. “His excuse was protecting and sheltering me from all the dangers in life, when in fact he was worried about his reputation.” – She continued. Omnia is not the only person in this situation, as according to the World Bank survey, 60% of females over 15 years of age in Egypt are illiterate as opposed to 35% for males in the same age group. Moreover, juvenile illiteracy in 1997 for the age group of 15 to 24 year was 25% for males and 41% for females.
Lack of education is yet another reason behind the high female unemployment rates. A survey carried out by The Organisation Mondiale Contre La Torture (OMCT) proved that in the rural areas, 7.54% of men and 24.05% of women were unemployed, with 7.5% of men and 27.62% of women unemployed in the urban areas. Moreover, the same study proved that women’s average wages were approximately one-third lower than those of men, while leadership positions were rarely obtained by women and even if they were, the occurrence was viewed as an anomaly.
May, a twenty-year-old Egyptian housewife, who is sat at home due to her husband’s belief that women are underpaid, harassed and underappreciated at work agrees. Commenting on the situation through a phone interview to Sinai Weekly, she stated that “at home I know my value, as I am the queen of my husband’s castle; whereas at work I would be underrated just because I am a woman.”
However, it is not always the case, as in some situations women are forced to work, proving once again that in the hands of the stronger sex, they are defenceless. “I am forced to clean houses in order to put food on the table to feed my four children; while my husband sits idle at home doing nothing.” – An anonymous female resident who is the sole bread winner of the family told Sinai Weekly.
Foreigners are no exception as social status and financial stability are the main motivations behind numerous mixed marriages as proven by Jane Marsh, a local resident: “A passport, well-paid job and ‘love’ are what they are looking for in a marriage to foreigners.” – She stated. “Getting married to a foreigner is more beneficial than marrying an Egyptian in most aspects such as being easier, quicker and cheaper.” – She continued.
And though it may seem that at home women should find refuge and be protected and cherished, they aren’t. In some cases a man considers his wife to be his property so can treat her as he pleases. A study carried out between January and March 1997 on a sample of 100 women aged between 14 and 65 years old (married or having been married) revealed that 30% of the women questioned admitted to being subjected to domestic violence on a daily basis, 34% on a weekly basis, 15% on a monthly basis and 21% occasionally. For 75% of women, the main reason for this domestic violence was found to be sexual. In Egypt, however, a husband who forces his wife to have sexual intercourse is not considered to have committed a criminal offense. Though, a study conducted by the New Women Research Centre and El-Nadim Centre has found that 93% of the women in the sample considered intercourse under such conditions as rape.
Other reasons for domestic violence included spending (65%), visiting (32%), housework (25%), religion (8%), jealousy (6%) and disobedience (5%). Sixteen percent of the women suffered injuries necessitating hospitalization, such as broken arms, broken ribs, internal bleeding and wounds in the head or the arms requiring stitches, while 9% of them attempted to commit suicide.**
Another interesting survey from the Egypt Demographic and Health Centre showed that out of 14,000 married women, 32% were beaten during pregnancy, with younger pregnant women experiencing this more frequently than older women (41% of women aged 15-19 compared to 26% of women aged 40- 49).
Having suffered all this, women can oftentimes find themselves in a position unable to get a divorce even if they want to, due to the inferior attitude towards them.”The old law allowed a woman to file for divorce only under specific circumstances in which she could prove ill-treatment, whereas a man could divorce his wife simply by saying “I divorce you” three times.” – Said Carin Benninger –Budel, Project manager at OMCT. “The law still does not make it legal for any institution to separate a wife from her husband without his consent, nor can she obtain a passport without his written consent.” – She added.
At the same time the situation has improved in the last five years where women now have more positive and significant roles and positions in society. More women now become politicians, businesswomen, celebrities, doctors, media workers and lawyers, changing the face of the modern Egypt. Ready to be heard and fight for their rights, they battle for a good education and high position. Most don’t take kindly to such questions as “where she was going”, “what she was doing” and “who she was with”. However, there will always be those who will abide by these rules and be their own queens of the castle.
Well, who she is, is yet to be decided: Queen of the castle or victim of muscle?
*Opinions presented in the article are not of the Sinai Weekly but of Sharmers.
**All statistics provided are from OMCT.
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