Women of Egypt

[The Straight Story]

Facebook user posts photo album highlighting the women taking part in #Egypt's protests

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=268523&id=586357675&fbid=493689677675

[hlthe2b]

1. Good... There is an unfortunate belief by some on DU that women

are not taking part--as though this were an Islamist revolution. Probably because they are watching the shit for coverage provided by our own MSM. If folks won't watch Al Jazeera, at least tune to BBC. And, stop listening to the NEOCONS on the pundit shows!

[pnwmom]

6. Women did take part in the Iranian Islamist revolution.

So their presence signifies nothing in particular.

[hlthe2b]

9. They participated in the demonstratons that preceded the

deposure of the Shah. Since my parents had left Iran only a couple months earlier I can speak authoritatively to this. That is quite different from having a major presence when the Ayatolla returned. Yes, Iran was a very progressive country for its women ... and its revolution did not begin as it later became. It did not begin as a fundamentalist Islamic revolution, but the power vacuum allowed for this to happen.

[pnwmom]

18. Yes, they were only active in the initial stages.

They were pushed out when the Ayotolla returned. It's hard to believe that's what most of them had expected or wanted. What was your impression?

[hlthe2b]

19. NO... that was not what they wanted...

That is the risk of leaving a power vacuum. Tehran had a tremendously vibrant and highly educated middle class. The Shah was a corrupt puppet tyrant, but nonetheless, women and the middle class did thrive. Many of my parent's friends were able to emigrate, but others did not fare so well, to put it mildly. I remember one family's son that was my age, Farshad. He was attending university at the time and was caught up in the revolution as the young poured out in the streets brandishing AK47s. Anyone who knew Farshad would die laughing at that image. Not only was he a Muslim agnostic, but knew as much about assault weapons as I (which is essentially nothing).

Farshad made it out by way of Austria to the US and still lives here the last I heard, working in the scientific field. Free to be his own very smart, somewhat awkward, but very funny self, I'm sure he's made a good life for himself.

[pnwmom]

20. Are you concerned that the same thing could happen in Egypt?

That in the face of a power vacuum, the fundamentalists could take over?

[hlthe2b]

21. My first thought (and in good company, since also the first thing

Brzezinski (Zbigniew, not the nutty daughter) had to say as well. But, I have more confidence that something better might be in play for Egypt. Egyptians are more nationalistic than they are Muslim and in general, the Copic Christian population and the Muslim majority get along pretty well. Further, this has truly been a populist uprising with the Muslim Brotherhood along for the ride. I think the Egyptians are very aware of what could happen which is why, I think we've seen them coalesce behind Mohamed ElBaradei. ElBaradei has been away long enough that he is not a natural choice, so it remains to be seen if he can be strong enough to maintain a coalition that will require cooperation by the MB as well.

Yes, I am concerned. But, the Egyptians are really a bit unique as a people. Even their 40% illiterate population are anything but ignorant. They may not read, but they are certainly better informed than many Americans. I can recall many a time walking around Cairo or elsewhere in Egypt and having children follow me like the pied piper--all to practice their English. These were not middle class children, but they could speak to what is going on in the US, far more than the average American could speak to what is going on in Europe, or Canada--much less the ME. And the middle class is highly educated. I don't think I came across anyone that I would describe as such who could not speak a minimum of three languages--fluently. They knew the English classics (literature and music) so well, that I felt incredibly inadequate in many discussions. And certainly they had a strong understanding of politics and current events throughout the world


If there is any country in the Region I hope to succeed, it is Egypt, though I have fond thoughts and memories of Jordan and even Syria--which the US has managed to villainize to an incredible degree.

[pnwmom]

24. I fervently hope you are right, hlthe2b.

For the sake of all the people there.

[barbtries]

7. i was holding that same belief

and i don't watch television. it was from looking at a slide show. the number of women was minuscule compared to all the men there. i commented on it and was led to the same album that straight story is sharing here. i will happily watch al jazeera. i am trying to learn about what is happening. your response here missed the mark in every way.

[hlthe2b]

8. No... my comment may have missed the mark with you,

but I don't think you account for all of DU. I'm glad you are going to watch something other than our own MSM. :toast:

[barbtries]

12. i get most of my news from DU.

and pundits? i watch rachel maddow while getting ready for work in the morning. that's it.
i still feel concern for the women in egypt. i would like to know that there are many, many more than i have thus far observed also taking part in the revolution. helping to lead it. preparing to be an essential part of what follows, etc. what can i say, i am a feminist.

[hlthe2b]

16. Good for you.

DU is more informed than most Americans, but unfortunately, there has been a long trend of looking at Arab and Muslim-dominated countries all the same and women in each of these countries as all the same. Having worked and lived a large part of my life in that part of the world, including Iran as a teen and Egypt, Jordan, and a stint in S. Arabia as a working professional, it distresses me, but most Americans don't want to hear it. they certainly don't want to hear that many Arab women want to wear the hijab (simple head covering) and resent that Americans equate their choice to be the equivalent of an Aghan women in their burka or Iranian women forced to wear the Chador (or the Saudi equivalent, the Abaya). American feminists don't want to hear that feminism in the Arab world is different, but equal of respect. It DOES exist, but their goals and what they strive for differs not only from ours, but also within the Region, by country.

[bananas]

2. "You must log in to see this page." - I don't have a facebook account

and can't see them.

[The Straight Story]

3. posting some here:

[bananas]

4. Thanks!

[barbtries]

14. you can register for free

same as DU. don't have to pay. in fact since they changed i quit paying and have no plans to do so.

[Turborama]

22. I posted a large selection in this OP --->

With full accreditation, of course: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x306505

[Starry Messenger]

5. But can they bake Lamingtons?

:eyes:

[prole_for_peace]

10. HA!!!

:spray:

[realFedUp]

11. News coverage absent of these

good to see.

[BOG PERSON]

13. .

[barbtries]

15. now that made

my heart drop. obviously sharia, like the bible, like the constitution, is open to interpretation. and fundamentalism just does not work - not for justice, not for equality, not for peace. so the question for me becomes are these respondents fundamentalists, or simply devout?

[riderinthestorm]

23. Yikes. You should make this it's own OP. nt

[Peace Patriot]

17. Great pix! Hadn't seen them. Thanks!

I especially love the one with the woman wearing sunglasses (and a white burka) really giving serious lip to a military officer, right in his face. But they're all great pictures.

-----

Footnote: The poster says she can't guarantee that all the photos are from the Egyptian protests. She's getting them from many sources. FYI.