Sorry, I will not celebrate Women’s Day! | Dr. Abeer Elgamal

March 11, 2021
By: Dr. Abeer Elgamal

Has it ever occurred to you that assigning a day for women means that the rest of the 365 days are for someone else?!

Have you ever thought that labelling some women as “working women” negates the fact that All women are working women, even if they are not paid?

Can you see how unfair it is to throw the burden of a whole family on one person and to accept that as a lawful “ sacrifice that will be rewarded with clapping hands and call it a celebration!

To celebrate the achievements of a person who works hard for the good of everyone else year long and squeeze them to fit into 24 hours, or even a month is really a shame!

To call the day a “crowning” of the efforts of women and a “paying back” is some sort of deceit and fraud.

Why am I angry?

I am mad because I can no longer take the so o called “ festival” done by the male clowns of media and swallow the bitterness of their honey-coated words with a smile on my face!

I am angry because I still have to worry about the safety of my daughters- and even my own- in the streets.

I am angry because I have to come up with ways to warn my three- year old granddaughter about the dangers lurking around her!

I am angry because girls are still instructed to dress and behave and speak in ways that fit the predator and to shrink into a cocoon to be safe! I am sorry, I do not want to celebrate women’s day.

Dr. Abeer Elgamal is associate professor of English Literature and Head of the department of foreign Languages, Faculty of Education, Mansoura University. She has studied and taught for over twenty-five years in various universities in Egypt, USA and the gulf and she takes great pride in her academic career and her role as an educator. She considers herself lucky since her career allows her to follow her passion for creative writing, reading and translating literature. She is a published author and translator. She believes her family is the main source of her inspiration and is immensely grateful for the love and support it offers.

*Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our articles and Egyptian women news updates by email.

3 comments

  1. You make some very valid points here…every day is women’s day! And every day we must make self-care a priority, so that we thrive, prosper and flourish as well!

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Excellent point Dr Abeer; women work every day and we are taken for granted! I have just learned of new laws proposed by the Egyptian gov’t for further control of women and it makes me very sad. I visited your country some years ago (pre-Revolution) and fell in love. Stay strong Dr Abeer and keep pushing for what is right.

    Like

Leave a comment