Written by: Thoraia Abou Bakr

Nowadays, the empowerment of women is considered a relatively new concept in most nations and in the Egyptian society, most women rights’ organizations are striving towards advertising the importance of empowered women within the society. The shocking aspect is that empowered women in the Egyptian history have been really abundant and not at all shy of achievements.
Starting with the Pharaonic times; the pharaonic culture recognized that women and men are both essential for a whole and complete existence; both genders were the two sides of the same equation; as such their roles weren’t oppressed or belittled, but greatly emphasized.
During the Pharaonic era, women had the same social and legal rights as men; as women were seen participating in events, writing up contracts and wills, taking part in military expeditions, attending markets, etc… In addition, women had rights to one third of any properties acquired during marriage and in case of a divorce; a husband is required to return all properties brought by his wife’s dowry. Women had the right to write any property to whoever they wish and to disinherit anybody, including their children, and as for salaries, they were paid the same as men. Women also assumed the roles of priests, who conducted ceremonies.
A fact unknown to many is that the royal blood belonged to women not men and in order for a man to rule, he had to marry a royal woman; that’s why royally born men often married their sisters.
Women pharaohs however, were not a common concept, but it wasn’t a rare one either, women started to assume the role of rulers in case of their sons being too young to rule; as such they were dubbed regents, but had all the power and influences of a pharaoh. As far as we know, the first woman to assume the rule of pharaoh or king for a few years was Meryt-Neith of the first dynasty. There isn’t enough information about her role as king, but her funerary monuments included artifacts only awarded to kings, in addition to having a solar boat, located in Saqqara, in order that she could sail to the afterlife. She had two tombs in different locations and each was surrounded by tombs of attendants and servants, an honor reserved for kings, so as to serve her in the afterlife.
Of course one of the most popular examples of women pharaohs is Hatshepsut of the 18th dynasty; she became the regent of her stepson Thutmose III, son of her husband Thutmose II from a minor wife. What made Hatshepsut different is that she was genuinely interested in ruling the country and improving it internally, by fortifying its economy and trade, and reserving its army for defense rather than attack. Yet, convincing people of her worthiness as a ruler beyond her gender was difficult, that’s why she assumed men’s clothing, including a ceremonious fake beard. She went to the extent of calling herself the female Horus, to prove her divine right to rule the country. In her 7th year as co-regent, she was ceremoniously and formally crowned king of Egypt. Hatshepsut’s readiness to rule the country apparently stemmed from her father Thutmose I, who said, "This daughter of mine, Khnumetamun Hatshepsut - may she live! - I have appointed as my successor upon my throne...she shall direct the people in every sphere of the palace; it is she indeed who shall lead you. Obey her words, unite yourselves at her command."

Even through the introduction of Ptolemaic culture when one of Alexander (the Great)’s generals assumed rule of Egypt, the Egyptian political and social rights remained unscathed. In fact, during these times, there was a greater focus on women literacy, when women teachers and linguists started to be present in society.
Another popular example of Egyptian queens is Cleopatra, the last queen of Egypt, often blamed for the fall of Egypt into the hands of Romans, but the fact is that she was a young woman, only eighteen, trying to fill in much bigger shoes. Her role as queen was shoved in her face alongside her brother, who was much younger. Cleopatra had great charm, but contrary to popular belief, she was not beautiful. She used her charisma in attaching herself to men of power, such as Julius Caesar and Marc Antony after the former’s death, seeing it as the only chance to regain the failing power of the Ptolemaic rule over Egypt. She later killed herself when she failed to maintain the autonomy of Egypt after Octavian beat her in the battle of Actium and refused to give the right to rule the country to her children. Queen Cleopatra simply played the game of politics as best she could, but history simplified her complex role into a foolish girl with a lustful appetite.
The Roman rule didn’t affect women’s rights a lot, although it was during Roman times the circumcision of both men and women was introduced. In fact the role of women started to recede at the hands of vindictive priests who started to advertise the idea that women belonged in their homes and not as active members of the society.
Egyptian women would remain behind stage until the 19th century with the emerging of societal figures, such as Qassem Amin, who was the first to demand the emancipation of women, later to be joined by Saad Zahgloul and Ahmed Lotfy El Sayed, who all demanded a more active role for women within the Egyptian society. The issue of women’s rights flared up after the 1919 revolution, which marked the first public participation of women in politics. The struggle was continued by women of great power such as Safia Zaghloul, Hoda El Sharawy, Saiza Nabrawy and Nabaweya Moussa, leaders of the feminist movement in Egypt. The former three women represented the Egyptian delegation in the 9th international feminist conference in Rome, advertising the return of the women presence in the Egyptian society to the rest of the world.
It’s crucial to realized that historically, the Egyptian society was an advanced one in the arena of women’s rights. It’s unnatural for us to refuse women’s roles within the community as our forefathers and mothers so bravely demonstrated. An Egyptian brain is never one to encourage regression and relapse, but it has been affected by so many other cultures that our heritage has become unclear and foggy. We need to return to the understanding of the importance of both men and women within our society and that women can not be molded into one unchanging role. Women will always be diverse and adapt to the changes of society; from historical queens to caring mothers to raging feminists to the average woman; all of which are proud and relentless.