Page 54 - Issue-30-En

ELITE Vol.1, Issue 30, April 2021 Happy

Ramadan

Women as value makers and

preservers
Yasmine Aladdin Abdel Atey, Research assistant at Women Studies’ Unit

the first women union, in 1928 beginning of
The month of March is the month of women on the
global level, that begins with the celebration of integrating women in formal education. And in
International Women's Day on March 8th through 1956 Egyptian women were granted full political
Egyptian Women's Day on March 16th ,and continues rights.
to Egypt and the Arab countries celebrate Mother's Celebration Mother's Day differs from one country
to the other. Its idea came first from the American
Day at the beginning of the spring every year. But have activist in the nineteenth century celebrating
we carefully considered the discourses used in these "Mother's Day for Peace"; to honour mothers who
celebrations! And which women are they talking lost their sons in the civil war, but this request was
about? What is the roles of women as makers of rejected. Anna Jarvis made the proposal again in
national values and identity of each country? the early years of the twentieth century and it
Historically speaking, International Women's Day became official to celebrate Mothers’ Day on the
marks year 1856 commemorating protests of female second Sunday of May every year.
workers in New York due to the inhuman conditions, Mother’s Day in Egypt had a different story; the
but these protests were forcibly dispersed by the call was made by Ameen Brothers of Akhbar
official authorities, it resumed again in 1908 by textile Elyoum. Aly Ameen called for celebrating
workers on the streets of New York. Women marched Mothers’ Day on the day marking the beginning of
carrying pieces of bread and bouquets of roses as Spring each year to commemorate sacrifices made
symbols of their movement. They demanded a reduce by mothers

of working hours and voting right. The official discourse of these celebrations reflects
Later on, in an attempt to divert the attention and a societal vision that limits the role of women to
contain the feminist discourse and demands, western their maternal roles. Mothers in this discourse
governments decided to promote an alternative become bearers and guardians of culture values and
discourse focusing on celebrating women rather than holders of national identity. Though motherhood is
responding to radical demands of equality and justice. a great role of women but can’t not be considered
Hence, international day of women was announced on the only one. Actually, this discourse reduces its
the 8th of March every year. roles in the social space and control women roles
As for the Egyptian Women's Day, It based on and existence by the patriarchal system. Patriarchy
Egyptian woman’s appreciation and her continuous legitimizes social system in its entirety as well as
struggle, beginning on 16 March 1919, over the fall of dominating members (men and women) and
many Egyptian martyrs, such as Hamida Khalil, Naima dictates power relations associated with
Abdel Hamid, Fatima Mahmoud and others in the them.Culture is a social structure; transmitted and

demonstration that Hoda Shaarawi led in expressing initiated through the socialization of members of
unity in national demands of 1919 revolution. The date society. Women as mothers are considered the main
remained very significant in Egyptian women struggle player in this process of socialization. Mothers
for equality and emancipation. In 1923 teach their children social values and roles
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