Role and Impact of Women on Revolution
Sarah Diaa Gamal
8:57
25/May/11
LEAD IN:
The Egyptian revolution on January 25th witnessed a lot of participation from
women of different religions and social classes. This came as a surprise to many people because
women do not typically participate a lot in political issues or protests. The January revolution
brought about a change, however and the role and impact of women could be seen and felt by
many.
Music:
(Egyptian revolution theme song)
The Egyptian revolution on January 25th brought about many social changes as it broke walls of
religion and sex making citizens stand side by side to fight the political regime.
As thousands of women took to the streets to voice their opinion alongside men, their aim was
not to fight for their rights as women, but rather to fight for their rights as Egyptian citizens.
Nat sound:
(Women shouting slogans against the Egyptian regime)
SHAHIN:
“We all participated as full-fledged citizens irrespective of age, irrespective of
sex, irrespective of religion. I didn’t feel that I was noticeable by other groups. I was there like
any other man participating in the activity.” (:19)
Zeinab Shahin is a gender and development specialist who also gave lectures discussing the role
of Egyptians in developing Egypt post the revolution.
SHAHIN:
“I think women should keep on to realize equal rights, to realize their rights, their
human rights and I think this revolutionary act would give momentum to that.” (:14)
Women in Egypt hold prominent roles in media, film, literature and civil society. When it comes
to politics, though, things are different. The ex-authoritarian government frightened women from
politics. Many feminist movements and women’s organizations were silenced and banned. The
number of women in the Parliament is, in fact, very little and the very act of a woman going to
vote was not safe as there was a great risk of sexual or physical harassment.
Women accounted for almost 10 percent of protestors in previous protests in Egypt. The January
revolution, however, brought women a much-wanted sense of freedom as 40 to 50 percent of the
protestors there were women.
Dalia Farouk, an Egyptian said she had never participated in any protests as she did not like the
idea of going in a march, but when it came to the January Egyptian revolution, things were
different. As she recalls the many events, she becomes bitter at times and more cheerful at
others.
FAROUK:
“I was really triggered by the Internet and communication cut off that we had on
Friday.” “I also wanted to support the people that are in Tahrir Square because I thought that if
all these people are standing there since the 25th, they need to know that after being beaten other
people in homes like us are really behind them so I wanted to go and show them that more
people are coming in and that they should stand up for the challenge of fighting the regime.”
(:40)
As Farouk squeezed herself amongst the revolting crowd, she looked around curiously to observe
just a sample of people that was really a representation of the whole Egyptian society. Among
those were females who ranged in their age, religion and social class.
FAROUK:
“I think they secured the crowd because having women in the crowd is not like
having a crowd of men that can take up the fight and the aggression of the military or police
forces. Actually, women in Tahrir Square represented women in Egypt so it was important to
make sure that this revolution is the revolution of the whole people and not only men, not only
people that have any aggression capabilities or maybe, Brotherhood or whatever.” (:39)
Farouk added that women’s presence served as further encouragement for people to join.
Sociology Professor, Madiha El Safty, discusses further roles of women from her perspective.
EL SAFTY: “In expressing their views, in sharing their views with everybody else, in holding
those posters, in helping each other. I know of women who provided food and drinks for
everybody else.” (:14)
The revolution also brought eminence to some females who had already been part of youth
movements, but were hardly heard by anyone. It started with Asmaa Mahfouz, who posted a
video on Facebook just one week before the revolution. The video later became viral on
YouTube. It was an announcement that she would go to protest in Tahrir Square on January 25th;
she urged all Egyptians to join her.
MAHFOUZ:
“Everyone in the country who considers himself a man should go out.
Everyone who says girls shouldn’t go to demonstrations because they’ll me abused should act
like a man and go out himself. To everyone who says not enough people will protest, nothing will
come of it, I say it’s your fault.” (:23)
Gigi Ibrahim, a journalist, blogger and socialist, documented the news events through social
media as well as Israa Abdel Fattah who was an active blogger updating Al Jazeera T-V with the
latest news.
With such a fast pace of change, there is definitely more to come as women will be more
eminently involved in matters of their society.
As plenty of campaigns were initiated following the revolution, women jumped to participate
and shed light on their role in what has become a warmer and more cooperative culture.
Sociology Professor, Nazek Nosseir talks about her observations of women’s participation.
NOSSEIR:
“When the campaigns for cleaning streets and so on, I saw that there were
females with broom sticks and with paints that are participating in cleaning their, you know,
residential areas. Perhaps even in more numbers than males. So, I think this revolution called
upon and got the help of males and females in relatively equal share.” (:35)
Observations like these did not exist prior to the revolution as there was no such thing as a
friendly atmosphere of team work between males and females when it came to work on the
street. Many women would not have been willing to simply clean or paint in public areas
alongside men, as they would fear risks of harassment or awkward stares.
Tahrir Square emphasized unity and cooperation, though. Plenty of female doctors were rushing
to the scene to show their support and heel the wounded.
NOSSEIR:
“There is no yardstick by which we can measure as of yet but, I mean, to again
refer to one occasion, and that’s the referendum as the way I saw it in the place where I went to
give my vote, there were equally females as well as males. So I, I mean, this is the kind of an
obvious and clear example where I found that women are equally participating. As of yet, there
are not enough circumstances where by you can judge whether females, you know, are equally
participating or taking an active role.” (:46)
Music:
(Fairouz, Mist aadat) FADE IN
Music:
Fairouz, Misr aadat) FADE OUT
Credits:
Prof. Zeinab Shahin
Dalia Farouk
Prof. Madiha El Safty
Prof. Nazek Nosseir
Podcast by: Ursula Lindsey
Music:
Egyptian revolution theme song
Fairouz, Misr aadat