http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=213799458094&topic=12452

But the radical feminists in Europe also wanted women to stop wearing uncomfortable clothing, like a bra, a tight skirt or high heals. They wanted women to stop wearing make-up and removing their body hair. Because women are learned to do these kind of things to look “pretty” for a man. But men never do these things to be attractive for a woman and they are taken a lot more seriously in society. I don’t think that’s the issue here, if I read that even a 60-year old woman wearing a niqab gets harassed. The harassment has nothing to do with the way you look or dress, but the fact that you are a woman. Weird!

I visited Egypt last year as a tourist. And I recognise Dina described the way she feels about all the unwanted male attention. It stirred my aggression and made me feel like something cheap and dirty. Unfortunately, I think almost every woman in the world have been the subject of some kind of sexual abuse or harassment during her life, especially when she’s young. Me too. (Don’t get me wrong. I like men and I am attracted to men.) But, I’m in my mid forties and I dress and behave conservatively. I was thinking this would give me enough protection.
I had two theories:
- Egyptians (men and women) probably see all women from the Western world as “easy” and without any moral values. Yes, there are female tourists that are flattered by the sudden amount of attention they get. I even think there is a kind of female sex tourism going on. This doesn’t give Western women a good name either.
- As a tourist usually you don’t encounter the best part of society, no matter the country you visit.
On the other hand:
- I’ve visited other Muslim- and Middle-East countries before and I never have been such a constant object of dirty looks and cat calls like in Egypt. Yes, even in the Khan El Khalili.
- Where are the Egyptian women? (Hotel)receptionist, desk clerk at a bank, shop assistant, pharmacist, cleaner… These are traditionally typical jobs done by women in most countries. 90% of the time I’ve seen these jobs done by males. I’ve read somewhere that Egypt has a rather high percentage of marriages that and end up in a divorce. What’s happening to those divorced women? Are they going back to their parents and stay at home? Don’t they have to go to work to make a living?

Call anyone enlighten me about what is going on in Egypt? To me this is still intriguing and until today I can’t find a satisfying answer. Or are the Egyptians puzzled themselves?

Thanks a lot for posting this Marwa.