When Will it be My Time to March? Women in the Contemporary Public Space

In one of my classes last week, the discussion switched from peace studies to women’s rights after someone claimed that one of the goals of the 2011 Revolution was to achieve equality between the sexes.

Not only did I find the statement incorrect, but completely absurd for someone to make such a claim so confidently, specifically given the current relationship between women and the public space.

Egyptian women have never owned any aspect of the public space, not only when it comes to protesting, but even when it comes to exercising some of the simplest and most basic rights like going out for a walk at night or wearing what would be seen as ‘revealing’ — all signs that a woman is “asking for it”.

Earlier this year the Women’s March on Washington took place; nearly five million women in the US, and across the world, claimed the public space in order to protect their rights, safety, health, and families.

While looking at photos and videos of the march gave me a sense of empowerment, I could not help but feel a deep sense of melancholy upon asking myself when it will be my time to march. The answer is never.

By looking at the relationship between women and the public space, it is safe to make the assumption that an Egyptian women’s march, if it ever happens, will not take place for decades.

It is not something that Egyptian women can think or dream of in the near future as it remains a concept that seems to be completely out of reach because of the patriarchal nature of Egyptian society.

This is not to say that Western societies do not suffer from the prevalence of patriarchy; it is a man’s world after all.

But it is more heavily embedded in Egypt to the extent that it is perceived as the norm.

And many, including Egyptian women, remain blind to the issue.

In 2013, UN Women reported that 99 percent of Egyptian women have been sexually harassed.

The biggest concern of one of our dear parliamentary representatives seems to be the virginity of our female citizens, as if the state has a divine right to exercise power over the sexuality of its women.

Within a state that does not recognize the humanity of its women, how can we expect women to ever claim the public space?

The main issue relies within the lack of public space available to Egyptian women — while the greater aspect of it belongs to the state and its security apparatus, whatever is left of it is completely owned by men.

As long as Egyptian women are seen as aliens to the public space, it will never be the right time for them to ask for and demand their rights.

As long as the public space is not female, we will never march.

Deena Sabry
Managing English Editor