By Azza Heikal Despite the new law issued to guarantee Egyptian women 65 seats in parliament, women will still face hard times in the coming elections. Since the Revolution of 1919, women in Egypt have been striving to assert their political status in society. Though in 1958 women were given the right to vote and participate in parliament, societal culture as well as customs and traditions continue to hinder women's full political empowerment. It is sad to mention that some misinterpretations of Islamic doctrines view women as incomplete creatures incapable of taking positive roles in their societies. If colonisation means the exploitation of one country by another, whether politically, financially, socially or culturally, male domination could be considered another form of colonisation. Women in our Eastern societies, including Egypt, suffer internal and external subjugation that prevent them from participating in decision-making or leading the public legislatively or constitutionally. In other words, women are given rights, but they are deprived of expressing and developing their political potential. The coming elections in Egypt, in being based on the power of wealth, or support of the ruling National Democratic Party, will not greatly enable women to better participate in public life. Besides, people will not vote for women who are not representative of their problems and aspirations. Meanwhile, the role model woman candidate has to be cultured, liberal and courageous without neglecting the customs and traditions of her society. A mixture of bravery and conservatism, modernity and liberty, and femininity and humanity is what we need in the coming parliament. The quota is not sufficient; a new society and new culture ARE required. Women are hoping against hope to have a voice of their own, whereas society is hoping to assert democracy and maintain harmony. This week's Soapbox speaker is professor of comparative literature, a writer and a critic.
