Women Also Have a Role in Egypt’s Unrest
Egyptian Women Lay Claim to Revolutionary Role
“Women are key actors in this historical moment of Egypt,” Mozn Hassan, executive director of the Cairo-based Nazra for Feminist Studies, wrote Women’s eNews at 5 p.m. on Feb. 2, moments after the Egyptian army fired warning shots in Cairo in a bid to break up violent clashes. “Women are giving a statement that they are working closely with men to change Egypt.”
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The call for democracy not only crossed gender lines, it is also changing street conduct. Nazra for Feminist Studies’ Hassan highlighted that women had been able to protest freely without men to protect them and without confronting the usual sexual harassment rampant on Cairo’s streets.
“Egyptians citizens gave a message of civility,” she said. “During all the last days, no single sexual harassment incident occurred and people were aware of that.”
On Feb. 1 women were widely visible on TV; donning sunglasses, hijabs and burkas, wardrobes that mirror the colorful fabric of Egyptian society. Mothers betting on the movement’s success brought their daughters out to the streets hoping to witness the coming dawn of democracy.
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