Changing Roles of Men and Women: Illustrations from Egypt

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to explore and illustrate from contemporary Egypt certain patterns expressing the changing roles of men and women as they confront the demands, responsibilities, and opportunities of their society. Most discussions about changing roles in or modernizing societies in the Arab world begin with the assumption that it is primarily the rising status of women that is the most powerful force for change in the family and the larger society (Berger 1964:134; Berques 1964:172-184; Hamamsy 1958). Implicit in this assumption is the idea that the most important factor in social change is the status of women-that it is the woman's aspirations, demands and successes that will transform Arab society profoundly and permanently. Many of the social reforms carried out in Egypt since 1952, for example family planning and the effort to raise social and educational standards, are intimately bound up with the status of women. The National Charter of May 1962 which is the foundation stone of modern Egypt has stated this principle: