Although Egypt generally has equality between men and woman
in a legal sense, in a social setting men dominantly control the women. Simple
loop holes in laws allow for women to work for much lower wages than men do.
For example, there is fair pay for women who work in each sector. The formal
sector allows for higher wages but women are not allowed to work in the formal sector. Therefore women get stuck in the informal sector where small wages are accepted as the
norm. Within the family structure men are traditionally the sole providers for
the family and hold all the power in the marriage agreement, income, and
typically head the household. Women are left to be the sole providers for the
children and also manage the household by cooking, cleaning, and taking care of
any livestock they may have.
Sources:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/10564819/Muslim-attitudes-to-womens-headwear-revealed.html
http://www.thedailybeast.com/witw/topics/egypt.html
It seems like men are reigning in Egypt. Based on the example you have given that higher wages job are not allowed to women, it's like the saying that men an women are equal in Egypt is totally fake. In some other Middle East countries, even though women may not have a social equal situation as men, they have an authority to decide something of the family; or at least they are able to talk with their husbands and decide together. However, in Egypt men all decide important things like economic of the family. A wife is more like a maid of the family because what they all do are house works. I think this kind of relationship of men and women should be something hundred years ago, but not for a modern social view today.
ReplyDeleteHowever, on the other hand, the week situation of women may caused by themselves. In Turkey, many women choose not to wear hijab or something cover their hair. But in Egypt, although there is a law says that women don't have to wear those stuffs, many women still choose to wear such a piece of head wear. So, Egyptian women are more traditional than Turkish women. Even though they are allowed to dress more open and modern, they choose to wear traditional. Maybe it is this mind that cause Egyptian women give up to argue for themselves to get the actual same place as men. Maybe is this mind let those women feel fine with their situation today.
It is interesting how across the Middle East women are struggling for rights but its publicized the most in Saudi where it is law instead of things like family honor that encourage family violence. I feel like formal laws are better than informal ones it gives some rights to the women that follow the law at least. I also feel that this is all changing this was once an American struggle and women are making strides all around the world and it will be impossible in the future for these conditions for women to persist into that future. I am curious as to what you think is better formal laws on what women can or can not do or blurry ones that are open for interpretation, in which do women get more freedom?
ReplyDeleteI keep wanting to find ways to emphasize that the act of a woman covering her hair is not in itself oppressive. It can be oppression if it does not stem from her own belief or desire, but rather is forced on her by family or government, but it can also be a way to express faith just as Christians may choose to wear a cross or Jews may choose to wear a yarmulke. Of course, the paradox is that the religious faith is based on a sense of obedience to religious tradition, which in itself is not free will, but it is free will to accept the religious tradition.
ReplyDeleteI think of Egyptian gender roles as being very complex and contradictory. So many women seem to participate in the revolution and protests, and attend university. The headscarf is not mandated. But sexual assault rates are very high, and women typically fall into traditional gender roles in the home and do not have access to all the same rights as men. One thing that I was very shocked to learn about in Egypt is the practice of female genital mutilation. My family hosted an exchange student from Egypt and I remember reading up on Egypt before she came and was shocked to learn how prevalent it supposedly is. I had read about the practice in African countries (not in Northern Africa) and had no idea it was occurring in Egypt. According to UNICEF, 91% of women aged between 15 and 49 have experienced female genital mutilation. Rates are supposed to be falling. The notion behind it is that it prevents women from being adulterous or desiring sex. This is a very much accepted practice in parts of the world, and is considered a point of cultural normalcy or pride, but I cannot help but let my ethnocentric views get in the way, I find it abhorrent. I have no idea what laws there are regarding this is Egypt. I think it is likely that the lines are “blurred” like you say, as many things seem this way. What rights for women aren’t blurred, and are guaranteed by law?
ReplyDelete