What was the first feminist organization in Egypt?
The first formal, self-consciously feminist organization in Egypt, al-Ittihad al-nisa ʾ i al-misri (in English, the Egyptian Feminist Union, or EFU). The Egyptian Feminist Union was founded in Cairo on 16 March 1923 by a small group of women from elite families who had been active in the struggle for independence from British occupation.
What did the Egyptian Federation of Women's Union do?
The EFU's agenda ranged from demands for political rights — the EFU picketed the opening session of the Egyptian parliament in 1924 after the new constitution had failed to grant women the right to vote — to social activism, carrying on the philanthropic work of earlier generations of women.
What is the Egyptian Feminist Union (EFU)?
The Egyptian Feminist Union (EFU) was founded by the former leader of the women’s committee in the Wafd party, Hoda Shaarawi.
What is state-feminism in Egypt?
However, the majority of these organisations were co-opted during Gamal Abdel Nasser’s rule, when legislation was passed to include all civil society organisations under state control, a period often referred to as ‘State-feminism’, which slightly changed during President Sadat’s reign of power due to his open-door economic policies 2.
Who founded the first national feminist movement in Egypt?
Abstract. PIP: The origins of the feminist movement in Egypt can be traced back to the social restructuring that occurred during the reign of Mohammed Ali (1805-48).
Who is the founder of feminist movement?
It commemorates three founders of America's women's suffrage movement: Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and Lucretia Mott.
What did the Egyptian Feminist Union do?
In 1923 she founded the Egyptian Feminist Union, which sought woman suffrage, reforms to personal status laws, and increased educational opportunities for girls and women.
What did Huda Shaarawi do?
Huda Shaarawi was an Egyptian feminist who removed her veil publicly in a rejection of the harem system which kept girls and women separate from men.
Who was the first feminist in the world?
In late 14th- and early 15th-century France, the first feminist philosopher, Christine de Pisan, challenged prevailing attitudes toward women with a bold call for female education.
Who founded feminist Criticism?
Virginia WoolfVirginia Woolf is rightly considered the founder of modern feminist literary criticism. Prior to her landmark contributions to the field, in particular her feminist manifesto of literary criticism, A Room of One's Own (1929), very few works register in historical accounts of its genesis.
Who defined feminism?
Charles Fourier, a utopian socialist and French philosopher, is credited with having coined the word "féminisme" in 1837. The words "féminisme" ("feminism") and "féministe" ("feminist") first appeared in France and the Netherlands in 1872, Great Britain in the 1890s, and the United States in 1910.
When did Huda Shaarawi remove her veil?
1923In 1923, when the pioneer of feminist activism, Huda Shaarawi, removed her veil in Cairo's train station, she created what became a landmark (and much-copied) gesture for feminists throughout Egypt and the Middle East and cemented her status as one of the most important feminists in twentieth-century Egypt.
What is Arab feminism?
The Arab Feminist Union (AFU) focused on achieving social and political gender equality while promoting Arab nationalism. The Egyptian Feminist Union (EFU) and its founder, Huda Sharawi, played a critical role in founding and organizing the AFU.
When did Egypt gain independence?
June 18, 1953Egypt / Founded
Who founded the Egyptian Feminist Union?
This resulted in them resorting to informal networks of activism, such as Huda Sha’rawi ’s founding of the Egyptian Feminist Union in 1923, Zaynab al-Ghazali’s founding of the Muslim Women’s Society in 1936, or Doria Shafiq’s founding of the Daughter’s of the Nile Union (Bint al-Nil) in 1948.
What is the Egyptian feminist movement?
Egyptian feminist movement: a brief history. The reinstatement of the 'deep state' only provides continuum for the further entrenchment of the overarching powers of the patriarchal state. These power asymmetries must be undone. Rana Magdy. 8 March 2017.
Why were the Suzanne Mubarak laws not passed?
However, the drawback is that they became infamousl as the “ Suzanne Mubarak laws ” . As such, these laws were not passed due to popular support, but due to the NCW’s close links to the regime and religious establishments. The NCW appropriated women’s activism and work by speaking on behalf of all Egyptian women.
What groups joined forces to fight against the brutality of the Egyptian regime?
From then on, different socio-political forces, like Islamists, leftists, feminists and liberals joined forces and started to contest the brutality of the regime. As a result, prior to 2011, women’s rights organisations occupied with the fight against sexual harassment, such as Harassmap, had started to emerge in Egypt.
What is the common misconception about the prevalence of sexual discrimination in the Middle East?
A common misconception about the prevalence of sexual discrimination in the Middle East is the notion of 'Islamic misogyny'.
Which political party tried to replace the women's rights agenda with a family agenda?
On one side of the spectrum, the political party of the Muslim Brotherhood, for example, attempted to replace the women’s rights agenda with a ‘family agenda’, and on the other side, civil society groups wanted to completely restructure the NCW so that it could be independent.
Is patriarchy only in the Middle East?
Patriarchy is by no means unique to Muslim-majority societies, and patriarchal authoritarian states do not only exist in the Middle East.
Who was the Egyptian midwife who helped women?
In 1832 Muhammad Ali went on to build a school at which girls and women were taught to be midwives. Further improvements to women's position within Egyptian society were introduced by Isma'il Pasha known as Ismail the Magnificent (December 31, 1830 – March 2, 1895), Muhammad Ali 's successor.
What is the role of women in Egyptian history?
In early Egyptian history (see Ancient Egypt ), women's position in Egyptian society is believed to have been equal to that of men. For example, female gods played a vital role in ancient Egyptian religion, roles which can be identified as being of equal importance to that of male gods.
What was the catalyst for change in Egypt?
Western repression along with the exile of the popular Wafd leader Saad Zaghlul proved to be the catalyst for change resulting in violent demonstrations. All classes of Egyptian society participated and it was the first time women were involved in such rallies. In fact "open political agitation and action on the part of women began with their participation in the Nationalist movement against the British".
What are some examples of Egyptian women?
Since their position was largely hereditary, women of commoner background such as the physicians Merit-Ptah and Peseshet, the vizier Nebet or the scribe Irtyrau are better examples of women's position in Egypt. Examples of early Egyptian art-work are also important in identifying the position enjoyed by women.
What was the beginning of the 20th century?
The start of the 20th century saw a growing national consciousness. "The overwhelming presence of Europe and the collapse of much of the traditional order led to a reconsideration of Egypt's own position and identity in relation to the west. National independence seemed to supply the answer to western domination".
What did the upper classes of Egypt do to their daughters?
Daughters of the upper classes in Egypt of the time were able to receive education at home, however poorer girls were able to attend Kuttabs where the Qur'an was taught along with some reading and writing. In 1832 Muhammad Ali went on to build a school at which girls and women were taught to be midwives.
What were the reforms in Egypt?
Reforms included updating public works and improving the industrialization of Egypt and importantly included a series of reforms within education. Although he generally regarded "education as a means of fitting young men for the public service", advancements were also made in the education of women.
How did women and men of Egypt address the need for sexual equality in their country?
For over a century and a half, women and men of Egypt have addressed the need for sexual equality in their country, through political organizations, feminist journals, and demonstrations that have made women's voices increasingly heard.
Who was Zayat?
Writer and novelist who worked for greater emancipation for Egyptian women. Name variations: Zayat; az-Zayyat, as-Zayyat. Born in Damietta, Egypt, in 1923; came to Cairo in 1936 to be educated; became a Marxist after she began studying at the University of Cairo in 1942.
Who is Hidiya Hanim Barakat?
Born in Cairo, Egypt, in 1898; died in Cairo in 1969; married Bahieddine Barakat, a professor of law at Cairo University.