Women at the centre of social change — an Egyptian case

Abstract

Living in contemporary Egypt, especially in urban areas and most particularly in Cairo, is at once stimulating and frustrating, dramatic and exasperating. There is obvious crowding with vehicles, people, and animals jostling each other on highways, in streets and alleys, and children are everywhere. Moving about can be both adventure and nightmare and all takes place amongst a seemingly chaotic intermingling of ancient, medieval, and modern methods and artifacts, of indigenous and alien structures and philosophies. It is little wonder that no-one, either native or foreign, has yet been able to make overall sense of the kaleidoscopic social transformations currently taking place. Perhaps the task is impossible. Yet it presents a formidable challenge.