The American University in Cairo
Maadi, Cairo, Egypt
contact@savvy-women-magazine.com
I apologize for my absence these past few weeks. During the Egyptian revolution it was simply impossible for me to blog for Savvy.
I am finally beginning to decompress from the whole experience. I saw and heard many frightening things during the uprising. Still, having said that, I am so happy I decided to remain in Egypt rather than being evacuated. I wanted to see, firsthand, history being made. I wanted to bear witness to the heroic efforts made by the citizens of Egypt as they waged a collective battle against a very repressive government.
Women were at the forefront of the struggle. I have decided to blog about two women who have been outspoken during this historic period. One of the women is young and Muslim and has gained great notoriety in the past couple of years as a tenacious activist and one of the founders of the April 6 Youth Movement. The other is older (notice that I didn’t say “old”) and a freethinker. She has earned a huge reputation, during her eighty years of life, as a medical doctor, author, and outspoken feminist/humanist. Both put their lives on the line when the chips were down.
In the clip that follows, Asmaa Mahfouz, a twenty-something Egyptian who has received a lot of press recently, including this piece about her in The New York Times, tells the story, to a couple of interviewers, of how she played a pivotal early role in the revolt.
Clip two is one of many available on Dr. Nawal El Saadawi. (For more information on this remarkable octogenarian, I recommend that you read this and/or watch this clip in which she talks about politics, feminism, democracy, and related topics.) In the short video included here, which was filmed as she was sitting on Tahrir Square during the uprising, she discusses the specific dirty tricks that were used by the Mubarak regime against the protestors.
Perhaps the greatest lesson I learned recently is that revolutions remind us that we are all connected through our universal struggle for dignity and self-determination. This sense of sharing a bond with others, in a common mission, comes through loud and clear in the words spoken by these heroic women.
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Post-script: After writing this, I went to the university library and checked out Dr. El Saadawi’s memoir, Walking through Fire. Though I am only a few pages into it, I can see it’s going to be a wonderful story brilliantly told.
February 21st, 2011 at 2:17 pm
Great article! I’ll be following closely to learn more about what’s going on in Egypt over the next few months.
February 22nd, 2011 at 11:57 am
Thanks, Rodney! Yes, the next few months in Egypt will be very interesting and crucial. My personal feeling is that Egypt has a bright future ahead of it. The citizens are very capable and determined. I already see that the people feel a greater sense of “ownership” (of the place, their lives, etc.) now that the regime is gone. I think this blog also demonstrates the strength of Egyptian women. Unfortunately, there is an assumption held by many that women in the Middle East have been made submissive because of the culture. I assure you that nothing could be further from the truth! Take care.
April 3rd, 2011 at 4:42 pm
Update on the status of the revolution. There was a huge protest at Tahrir Square this past Friday. Many gathered because they feel like the revolution is being hijacked or is loosing steam. There does seem to be a general letdown is Egypt right now. It feels as if many have the Post-Revolution Blues. I would have to count myself as one of those who feel this general malaise.