When protests and uprisings broke out in Tunisia in January of 2011, then quickly spread to Egypt and Libya, women were present on the “frontline” standing side by side with men for the fight for freedom and democracy. The Arab Springs in Libya and Egypt gave women the opportunity to participate in roles that they never dreamed of playing. Women in Libya raised money for weapons for rebels, smuggled bullets in their purses, called in NATO airstrikes, volunteered at frontline clinics, created revolutionary newspapers, and even fought on the frontlines. In Egypt, women said they were treated as equals at demonstrations and in Tahrir Square.
When protests and uprisings broke out in Tunisia in January of 2011, then quickly spread to Egypt and Libya, women were present on the “frontline†standing side by side with men for the fight for freedom and democracy. The Arab Springs in Libya and Egypt gave women the opportunity to participate in roles that they never dreamed of playing. Women in Libya raised money for weapons for rebels, smuggled bullets in their purses, called in NATO airstrikes, volunteered at frontline clinics, created revolutionary newspapers, and even fought on the frontlines. In Egypt, women said they were treated as equals at demonstrations and in Tahrir Square. “It didn’t feel like there was men and women, just people. It was the first time in my life I felt something like this.†says Dina Abouelsoud, one of the organizers of the International Woman’s Day march in Tahrir Square which followed their revolution. On March 8th, 2011, widely recognized as International Women’s Day, Egyptian women peacefully demonstrated in Tahrir Square. The Coalition of Egyptian Feminist Organizations states “The participants then stood on the pavement, and got involved in a constructive dialogue about issues of citizenship, discrimination and social justice.†Shortly thereafter, participating women were barraged with physical assault, sexual harassment and verbal abuse by a group of men. Women were chased through the square, sexually assaulted and in some cases beaten. Women have been largely barred from all discussions on democracy in Egypt. The Mubarak government was seen to take visible measures to include women in politics, reserving 64 seats for women in the lower house of parliament. The women’s quote was abolished after Mubarak’s regime and currently, women make up less than two percent of Egypt’s newly elected parliament. Following the uprisings many women are worried of the return of Islamist parties to politics and the fact that it could pose a threat to their rights, or even a possible decline in rights. Some people believe that women’s rights are only an issue in countries where religion is law, such as many Muslim countries; Afghanistan under soviet occupation, versus Taliban rule is a key reference to such thinking. Afaf El Sayyed, a teacher in Cairo and a self proclaimed feminist who has been involved in activism since the 90’s states, “There has been a regression of women’s rights since the revolution, sexual violence, the threats, especially to women’s NGO’s, and more violence towards Christian women. Fundamentalists groups are pressing women to stay at home, they are pushing their agenda.†Afaf herself has received messages threatening physical violence as she currently works for “Heya (She) Foundation for Women†For most individuals, a revolution suggests positive change and departure from oppression or a tyrannical mechanism. If a revolution supported and fought for by women were obtained, one would hope for and expect reasonable progress. One would anticipate seeing improvement and not digression for women’s rights in the evolving political landscape of the new Arab world, her voice counts.