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Al-Ahram Weekly 21 - 27 October 1999 Issue No. 452 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 21 - 27 October 1999 Issue No. 452
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Features Profile Travel Living Sports People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Humanists,
By Safynaz Kazem *
not feminists
I have been reading the memoirs of Egyptian women pioneers who rose to prominence at the turn of the century through their endeavours to prove that women are equal to men. I began with the great Mai Ziyada, then moved on to Hoda Sha'rawi, concluding the round with Nabawiya Moussa's autobiography. Moussa describes all the obstacles she faced with great intelligence. Her opponents, British and Egyptian alike, were waiting to trap her at each corner. She always succeeded in escaping the traps they set for her, and even in turning them against her enemies. Her autobiography is extremely enjoyable and often humourous, especially when she mocks those who obstructed her efforts to achieve her goal: to become a learned working woman, who believed passionately in Egypt. Education and work, she was convinced, are the primary means of rising from servility to independence and enlightened progress.
I greatly admire Mai Ziyada's literary genius and feel deep anger at the tribulations she faced. I am also awed by Hoda Sha'rawi's decision to give up her comfortable life and endure hardship to help her country and humanity.
Malak Hefni Nassef and Aisha El-Taymouriya, too, were gifted, enlightened and progressive Egyptian citizens -- not feminists. Through her personal achievement, each sought to prove that women are as competent as men. They fought with courage and persistence. Their personalities were very different, but they were united by their devotion to a single goal. They sought the glory of humanity, without restricting their endeavours to the narrow straits of the feminist cause.
* This week's Soapbox speaker is a writer and critic.
