Egyptian Feminism Discussed at Cape Cod Community College

Speaking on the historical struggle for women’s rights in Egypt, Dr. Naglaa Saad Mohamed Hassan, visiting Fulbright Scholar in Residence at Bridgewater State College, addressed a mostly academic crowd at Cape Cod Community College Tilden Arts Center Wednesday.

“It’s not often that we have the opportunity to speak with someone on Egypt,” said Lisa Heller Boragine, Assistant Professor in the Communications Department at Cape Cod Community College, who invited Hassan to speak. Boragine is also the advisor to the debate team, which will be attending the Massachusetts Forensic League State Speech and Congress Championship on April 9.

Dr. Hassan talked about the journey Egyptian women have made in gaining social and political rights. At the turn of the 19th century, women were confined within the traditional roles of wife, housekeeper, cook and mother. But little by little, women began making demands for the right to education, to work and to participate in congregational prayers at mosques.

The struggle has achieved notable milestones over the past century, most recently in 2000 when a law giving women the right to “self divorce” was established. More recently, women took to the streets to protest President Mubarak’s rule, flooding Cairo’s Tahrir Square along with men.

“There was no sexual harassment during these protests,” said Hassan proudly. Hassan pointed out that this has not been the norm for Egyptian women in public places.

During the period of Q & A that followed Hassan’s presentation, students and other audience members inquired about the role of female sexuality in Egypt, the role of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egyptian politics and on France’s ban of the veil in public.

“I think the French law is against freedom 100 percent,” answered Hassan, explaining how the veil can be part of a woman’s identity, and that she should be able to decide on how she wants society to look at her.

“To enforce the veil is anti-freedom; to ban the veil is anti-freedom,” she said.

At the close of the event, Boragine was very pleased with the exposure her students had received, particularly in support of the forensic league's championships next month. Subject matter in the event’s Extemporaneous Speaking category will be on political and economic topics in current events.

“I wanted to give my debaters the opportunity to learn from an expert,” Boragine said.

But debaters weren’t the only attendees to benefit from the lecture.

“I’m here for the three points of extra credit,” said a student in the World History class.