Women in Public Life
Posted on
Alexandria—
The BA Dialogue Forum hosted Writer Amina Shafik, Al-Ahram, on Saturday, 5 May 2007in a seminar entitled "Women in Public Life", in which she tackled women status in Egypt, and obstacles facing women in general. Dr. Bahiga Hafez, Head of Societal Medicine Department, Alexandria University participated in the seminar, chaired by Dr. Yehia Halim Zaki, Head of the BA Academic and Cultural Sector.
Mrs. Amina Shafik started her talk by opposing what Dr. Halim Zaki mentioned at the outset of the seminar about Egyptian women and the fact that they are "lost". She said that it is commonly thought that women enter the workforce to compete with men. She commented that women are not the only "lost" element in the society, men also face many challenges, and added that those who found their way in the Egyptian society should lead the "lost".
On Egyptian women joining the workforce, Mrs. Shafik said that unemployment is not an option in the society, whether for men or women, for economic reasons that has nothing to do with competing men.
She elaborated on the cultural and social significance of the French presidential elections today, in which Ségolène Royal, left-wing candidate, compete with Nicolas Sarkozy, right-wing candidate, referring to the political successes of women in other societies, such as: Germany, Ireland, India, UK, Turkey, and Sri Lanka. She also referred to the possibility of Hillary Clinton winning the American presidential elections, and the position of Nancy Pelosi as the Speaker of the US House of Representatives. Mrs. Shafik linked between designating the twentieth century as "century of democracy" and the twenty first century as "century on women", and raised a question whether women rights depend basically on democracy.
Despite the remarkable progress achieved in the status of women as a result of concluding several international covenants on human rights, women, children, and environment, democracy by itself does not make Ségolène Royal, Hillary Clinton, Angela Miracle, or Margaret Thatcher; several economic, social, and cultural factors should be found in a certain society to succeed in empowering women.
She questioned the success of "century on women", at a time when Egyptian women are facing real challenges, 90% of whom are enrolled in the informal labor sector, deprived of the protection of labor law, and employment rights, thus, deprived of democracy.
To make an Egyptian Ségolène Royal or Hillary Clinton, Mrs. Shafik said we need to develop new production methods and economic patterns, to which the majority women are affiliated. She added that the society should focus on construction, development, and economic, cultural, and social progress to succeed in women empowerment.
Following her talk, Mrs. Shafik conducted an open discussion with the audience on different women issues.