Women on the front lines in Egypt

[cal04]

http://mattcornell.org/blog/2011/01/women-on-the-front-lines-in-egypt/

There was an interesting piece in Slate the other day about the role of women in the Egyptian uprising. Women’s participation in the demonstrations on Tuesday’s “Day of Anger” was estimated to be as high as 50%. This hasn’t always been the case.

Protests have a reputation for being dangerous for Egyptian women, whose common struggle as objects of sexual harassment is exacerbated in the congested, male-dominated crowd. Police hasten to fence in the demonstrators, and fleeing leads to violence. And women, whose needs are not reflected in the policies of official opposition groups who normally organize protests, have little reason to take the risk.

(Video at link)

So, what’s different this time? At least partially, it’s the presence of women as leaders in the protest movement. Though Slate notes that fewer women have been visible on the streets since the military crackdown, there’s still plenty of evidence that they’re playing a critical role in the demonstrations.

Egyptian journalist Mona Eltahawy has emerged as one of the most prominent representatives of the movement on Western news media. Yesterday, she successfully got CNN to change their headline from “CHAOS IN EGYPT” to “UPRISING IN EGYPT.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_BS9Iniw0Q&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXDufLUy2Qg


Mona Eltahawy
http://twitter.com/#!/monaeltahawy
Women on the frontlines in #Egypt http://bit.ly/eLfoDq Inclu links to articles about women's involvement in the uprising vs #Mubarak #Jan25

[sharesunited]

1. Headscarves, ladies. If I may be permitted to point out the incongruity.

Inconsonant. Inconsistent. Lacking harmony of parts.

If you are throwing off tyranny, go for the gusto.

[hlthe2b]

2. Feminism is not the same throughout the world...

These women choose to wear the hijab. If we can not respect their choices and support them as they move forward then we are nothing but bigoted hypocrites. Of course if you believe that all Muslims are the same and a woman in Egypt choosing to wear the hijab is the same as a Afghan woman FORCED to don the burka by the Taliban, then you have a real need to educate yourself.

[sharesunited]

3. Choosing to wear them makes it sound like a fashion statement.

They should burn them like American women burned their bras forty years ago.

[hlthe2b]

4. Do you know just how arrogant that makes you sound...?

That You should demand what is appropriate for these women and what beliefs and religious/cultural practices they should observe?

f course for someone who earlier claimed that "that is what Egypt has done with our foreign aid. Promoted hatred for America and Israel...."
I guess that is par for the course.

[sharesunited]

5. To prove my humility and demonstrate my modesty and solidarity,

I'll be wearing a headscarf today.

[WingDinger]

6. And their makeup, and their girdles, and their bride magazines, and their yadda yadda