Eman Morsi highlights the central role of women in the current Egyptian strike movement:
What really stood out in these demonstrations, apart from the huge number of workers participating in each of them, was the fact that most of these events were led or initiated by women. These women not only participated during the daytime activities but have also gone against social norms by spending the nights in their factories during sit-ins instead of going back to sleep in their homes as “respectable” women in society are expected to do.
While all the female leaders of the workers’ movement are middle aged women, a huge percentage of the women who participated were in their 20s or younger. According to Amal, one of the female leaders, who is in her late 30s, “these young girls were too hesitant and afraid at the beginning to join but when the actual event took place they acted with more enthusiasm than the men” She said with pride.
…. Though the prominent role of female workers in the workers’ movement might lend itself easily to a “feminist” interpretation, female workers of all ages deny the “accusation”. “We don’t want anything of the sort [feminist demands], we just want to have a good salary and a decent life for both of us, women and men.” 29 year-old Soad said.
For more on the role of women in the ongoing wave of labor strikes, check out this link, this posting, and that one.
