In the twenty-first century, there are a great deal of variations on the feminist ideology. It is important to note that Egyptian feminism is not the same as Western or secular feminism, nor is it the same as Islamic feminism. Egyptian feminism is its own unique brand of feminism. On the one hand, Egyptian feminism can be characterized as women's participation in nationalist movements against colonialism and imperialism, and on the other hand, Egyptian feminism can be defined as women raising their own voices inside nationalist organizations. After Egypt gained its independence, a new generation of feminists began their work, which lasted until 1939 when it was finally put to rest. In the 1940s, Egyptian feminism took a radical turn, leading to the dissolution of the Egyptian Feminist Union and the establishment of the Egyptian Feminism Party (1942) and Bint-al-Nile (1948), respectively. The idea of feminism in Egypt underwent yet another significant transformation during the beginning of the second half of the decade of the 1950s. In the late 1950s, the dictatorship of Nasser supported state-sponsored feminism, which looked to be a challenge to Egyptian feminism and was continued by his successor. Nasser’s successor also continued the promotion of this ideology. It would appear that Islamism poses a challenge to Egyptian feminism as well. On the other hand, Egyptian feminism is still important in modern times, as seen by the role that women played in the Arab Spring and the demands that they make of Egyptian society.
Key words: Feminism, Egypt, Arab Uprising, Discourse
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