Gender on the Agenda # 4

Young wo/men write about gender roles in the Middle East and Denmark:

I want to be the new hero
I want to be the best role model
I want to be a great front figure
But…
What do you want with me?
You want me to be at home
You want me to multitask, but not on the street. Inside the closed doors so nobody can see me and my power
But…
I am smart, so I’m not listing to what you say about me. The things you say that I can’t. Instead I’m doing what my instinct tells me!
I will, I can, and I’m doing what every woman should do. I am the voice of the future

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As an Egyptian girl I have always been a little different from other girls as the same age. I have always thought of being independent from my family and living on my own. I have always wanted to take responsibility of myself and to be free of the traditions and away from social dogmaes that claim that the girls place is her home.

I have been a little lucky as my family supported me in pursuing my professional career and professional dreams. But as a girl my gender still constitutes on decide to me in continuing to pursue my dreams of being independent and living on my own as my parents, even though open minded does not approve of it neither does the rest of the family or society. This is because it is not really acceptable to see a girl living alone in general.

I like to talk about a challenge of inherited culture which includes several bad habits deal with women as human being of less right and not equal with men (Duality of standards). The wrong explanation of religion which puts women in a lower degree than men. Some association in government sector and private sector distinguish between men and women in employing and salaries. The wrong point of view which says: “women must stay at home to take care of house, children and forbids them to work outside home”.

- Wedad - Egypt



My dream is to see gender equality and freedom of speech implemented all over the world in general and in the Arab countries in particular. As a young women living in an Arab country it was really difficult to work as a women’s rights activist, especially as I have a feminist background, so it was difficult for me to express myself, run for women´s rights because if I did that, I would be criticized by the all society.

So I feel that I am responsible for that too and to realize my dream I have to take an action. So I hope I can establish a data base and networking for young women. Women who are concerned about women’s rights and gender equality, women who are active, and women who are interested in joining the network to support each other as well as exchange their experiences.

- Nihal - Egypt



First of all I am a human being and if I have some goals I’ll work on achieving them. Life always comes with obstacles whether you are a man or a woman. I think that if we rise above the gender issue and become qualifies aware and educated we can reach much more than we are aware of. I realize that women in the Middle East are facing more obstacles in their way to their goal, but I believe that if you really want to achieve a goal and work hard for it can become a reality. Obstacles are there to overcome. The knowledge we get from this will make us stronger as human beings.

So I see many strong women, which makes me confident that women are made of certain strength. So obstacles or no obstacles women can do a lot of great things. The key word is to believe in your self. Because if you don’t believe in your self who should?

So to all women - keep fighting for your dreams- not because you are women but because you are human beings that have a lot to give the world.

- Louise - Denmark