Egyptian women have throughout history proven their full capability to undertake all social responsibilities and to contribute to advancement in all walks of life. Lately, the administration has decreed a major change of governors, but the newly named governors included no woman at all. There were reports that some prominent women have been approached but they declined for one reason or the other. The fact that no woman has been chosen for the post, has got people wondering. “Women play an essential role in building society and they should be allowed to serve as judges, governors and even the President," says Hoda Abdel-Rahman, a professor of political science at Al-Azhar University. “Women in Egypt work as hard as men and have much experience in many fields, so there's no problem with their holding senior political positions. “They should be offered the chance to undertake senior post like that of a governor, that oversees the duties and performance of an entire governorate," she adds, stressing that women are close to citizens and able to solve their problems. “There are many women capable of successfully serving as governors. We are very surprised that they have been excluded from this job," says Amal el-Fayoumi, a professor of political science at Cairo University. “Women played an active role in the January 25 Revolution and are therefore capable of leading the country. All women's associations and organisations must promote their rights and pressurise all the parties to give women the right to full public participation including, naturally, politics. “We should get rid of the idea that women should stay at home and take care of their children." “Women and men are equal in the Law and the Constitution, and I'm looking forward to see a real change after the revolution. We should have some women governors," Nehad Abul Qomsan, the head of the Egyptian Centre for Women, told Al-Messa newspaper. “The post of governor requires a lot of administrative skills, something that many women have." “Women are one half of society. They are equal to men. They should have the right, just like men, to play a leadership role in society," Noha Ahmed, a student at the Faculty of Commerce, Ain Shams University, told this newspaper. She added that the political powers in Egypt have ignored the role of women in political life, and this must change. “Women should, therefore, serve as ministers, judges and governors," she added.
