CAIRO - The forthcoming parliament, which the Egyptian nation is looking forward to as a first step on a thorny road to democracy, is likely to have poor female representation. Women running in the elections on party lists complain that they have been placed at the bottom of the lists, which means hardly any chance at winning. Some parties, particularly those associated with the Islamist trend, were actually compelled to put women candidates on their lists - not out of conviction but compliance with election rules. Each list must at least contain the name of one woman. “Women function as mere decorative elements,” said Nur el-Hoda Zaki, a member of the Egyptian Women for Change Movement. An activist and journalist, Zaki has reason to believe that society's unfair view of female political participation is evidenced on many levels. She stated that no women were ever invited to any meetings of the military council and representatives of political powers. “The interim Sharaf government had one female minister who had already been in the Nazif Cabinet,” Zaki told Al-Wafd Arabic daily. She castigated party laws, seeing them as a straightforward interpretation of women's inferior role in society. Zaki believes that women have to present themselves as fierce competitors but have to be backed by professional unions and NGOs. Women were reported to be active partners in the January revolution and associated events. Today the names of young bloggers like Israa Abdel Fatah and Asmaa Mahfuz ring a bell, they are known for their determination and political awareness. It was believed that their presence on the political scene in the wake of the January uprising would be genuinely felt. But although the revolution advocated fairness and equality it did not bring women any substantial gains, which is deeply disappointing. However, some young activists have decided to run as individuals in the parliamentary elections. How much voter confidence they can win is yet to be decided in the ballot boxes. In the meantime, the only female presidential hopeful is Bothaina Kamel, who works in the media. She is striving hard to make her voice heard in a battle reserved for men. Margeret Azer , a member of the Al-Wafd liberal party board, holds society responsible for the absence of women on the political scene. Pointing the finger at parties neglecting proper orientation and qualification of potential female members, she added that female party leaders were almost nonexistent. Azer believes that a culture, which considers women only fit for a limited number of activities, stands in the way of women developing their capabilities. According to the dogma of a male-dominated society, women are accepted as lawyers, academics and doctors. But when it comes to politics they are generally seen as less competent than their male counterparts. In the view of Nabil Abdel Fatah, the head of Al-Ahram Social Studies Centre, the empowerment of women is likely to witness a setback due to the growing influence of Salafists and other religious fundamentalists. He explained that fundamentalists, whatever their political orientation, were convinced that political work was alien to women's nature. These parties adopted therefore a systematic approach to exclude women. But he also blamed feminist movements for their poor performance and low voice, resulting in the failure to change the typical and stereotyped roles of women.
