'Women & the Egyptian Revolution', a book celebrated by Washington Post

CAIRO – 10 June 2018: One of the most peaceful revolutions to ever happen in the history of humanity was executed by the hands of the Egyptians back in the early days of 2011. Millions of Egyptians took to the streets to object to former President Hosni Mubarak's regime, desperately seeking social justice and better standards of living to be able to cope with the hike in prices.

In 2011, citizens were hopeful that the “people’s movement” in Egypt and all across the Arab world will play an influential role in changing the economic and political circumstances as well as the poor standards of living, by overthrowing the corrupt governments that ruled.

By mid-February 2011, Mubarak had stepped down, sparking lights of hope in the hearts of the Egyptian people who hoped for a better future.The Washington Post official website uploaded a new book titled “Women & the Egyptian Revolution – Engagement and Activism during the 2011 Arab uprising" written by Nermin Allam.



Allam is a professor in the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.The professor declared in her book that since Mubarak stepped down, the activities lead by women have failed to achieve the upmost benefits and reach sustainable political and social development for the future.

Allam’s book analyzes the Egyptian revolution of 2011. The book consists of 118 intriguing interviews with female political and social activists. The author also critically analyzes Egyptian local news that focused on the role of the Egyptian women during the 2011 revolution, which was both published in Egyptian newspapers and The New York Times.

In fact, the writer goes in depth regarding the role of women in modern Egypt’s history, and speaks about women’s role in the Egyptian revolution against the British colonizer in 1919.The writer made it clear in her book that despite the local women's significant participation in constructing a civil society for over 20 years, they still lack most of their political and social rights!

Allam is upset because most women activists are being unrightfully removed from the political scene and are deprived of the right to have a say about the new amendments made in the Egyptian constitution.Moreover, Allam is trying to point out the important role women played in the economic, political and social reform that took place in the Arab world in General, and specifically in Egypt.

This is what makes the book special, as no one has ever shed light on the role of women in Arab conservative societies, and what obstacles they face along the way while trying to express themselves politically and/ or socially.