With Egyptian women taking to an anti-sexual harassment campaign on Monday, in what is the first such massive movement on the streets and online to promote a change in Egyptian society toward the treatment of women, the role of women's empowerment in the Middle East and the Islamic world has too often been left on the sidelines in the face of grave injustices that are reported. It is a dark time for women across the Islamic world, but we are witnessing a revolution of thinking. When Egyptian women took to the streets on International Women's Day, they were met by angry men who harassed and assaulting them, showing the ugly signs of Egyptian society. Now, however, women's advocates are not turning a blind eye and running; instead they are facing the societal issues head on in an effort that is gaining steam, supporters and effectiveness. “This is happening finally, we are having a women's revolution in Egypt and it will spread to other places where women are struggling,” said Heba, a 33-year-old mother of two who has joined forces online to promote Monday's campaign. For those who supported or observed on Monday, thousands of women and women advocates took to Twitter with the hashtag #endSH in order to voice their concerns and tell their stories of sexual harassment. The event was led by HarassMap, who joined forces with activists and bloggers in Egypt and across the region in the organisation of the online campaign that is just part of the growing women's revolution. The key word here is “women's revolution” and not “sexual revolution” as many Western commentators too often argue is what is needed. While ostensibly they may mean the same thing in Western intellectual circles, talking of a sexual revolution inside conservative Islamic societies alienates and ultimately lessens the impact that women's rights leaders and organisations can achieve. This article was written by Bikya Masr's Editor Joseph Mayton for Dawn.com and can be read in its entirety here. BM
