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ELITE ISSUE 14, DECEMBER 2019 PAGE 6

Ever since Egypt has adopted the Republican system, What is the role of Does the woman ’s living situation, especially her economic
the First Lady regarding emancipation of Women? And how effective is status, make a difference in her responsibility on tackling Family
it? Planning?
There is no specific role for the First Lady, it is just used in mere The Economic status of women plays a role in how they tackle
Protocol, it Mrs. Gihan El-Sadat was the first to pursue roles of the First family planning, where working women are more likely take
Lady, after the close relationships that was tied with the United States, prefer family planning and have no more than two children, on
and her desire to walk by the American example, she was succeeded by the other side, non-working women would want to have more
Mrs. Susan Mobarak, who played the same role as her predecessor, but in children, mainly out of boredom and their lack of sense of
the meantime, Mrs. Entesar El-Sisi doesn ’t play the same role as they purpose in life, and so, if the government focused on the
did, and only abides by her duties as the Protocol dictates, and if the emancipation of women in the workforce, this will affect birth
position of First Lady, plays a role in advocating for women rights, then rates immensely as when women pursue their careers, they would
it is only bound to putting forward certain topics to discussion, this was find a sense of purpose other than that relating only to having
clear in the era of President Mobarak and was only pursued by Mrs. children, and so birth control is not just related to the economic or
Mobarak to achieve her own personal goals. Currently speaking, I th ink social status only, but also to the amount of awareness women
that the discourse adopted by President Sisi and his interest in women have of their worth.
rights, is a great push for the call for women rights, substituting the role
held by the First Lady in the previous eras, the greatest example for that
Did the Arab Spring change the situation of Arab Women?
is his dedication of a whole year for Women, that posed an obligation on
After the Arab Spring, women became bolder and more aware of
all decision makers to bear in mind women rights.
their rights, since they took part in demonstrations and

organization of public patrols, and had witnessed their men in
Which aspect plays a bigger role in society ’s perception of women:
moments of weaknesses, that is contrasting to the view of the
Religion or Culture?
“Strong ” man that is embedded in the culture, where man is
For me, I see our society as a pragmatic one, that would only abide by
viewed as the all powerful, sole caretaker, of the family that the
either religion or culture to pursue our own interests and benefits, this
woman should always depend on, but in the time of the revolution,
includes the society ’s perception for women, that is why I think that
and the uncertainties that faced men and women alike, and the fear
this perception can be easily changed specially with the spread of the
that entered into men ’s faces, proved to women that they are both
internet, that played a huge role in the emancipation of women and
society.
calling out individuals who violate their rights, for example the equal and broke the image that was embedded in their minds from
backlash that Mohamed Salah faced after his support for Amr Warda,
and also “Me Too, ” that pointed out the former President of the IMF

for his accusation of sexual assault, leading to the end of his career.

.Nehad Abol komsan's answers of the UPR side event interventions
the answers addressed three main topics about Egypt ian women: Importance of quota for women in Egypt, sexual
harassment, and The Judicial Authority