Egyptian Women Were More Empowered in the 1900s

Reminiscing about the past has become a common occurrence amongst Egyptians. Recently a Facebook post went viral, stating that Egypt is the only country that can move forward in our modern days, by traveling back in history. Egypt in the 1900s used to have streets, buildings and generic architecture that competed with those of London. We used to have an extent of social order – regardless of the poverty and social problems that existed – and we used to have overall respect for one another, regardless of gender and religious affiliations.

“Although it was not a private establishment, it was a premier institution in Cairo that paid witness to mutual respect, high intellect and high education amongst students.”

One of the many aspects constantly found taking a stroll down memory lane amongst Egyptians, is the freedom, equality and elegance of women in the 1900s. Today sexual harassment, and social oppression towards women has become a common and normal trait, sending our society and country on a backward progression.

Cairo University has always been a public institution since 1908, the year it was founded. Although it was not a private establishment, it was a premier institution in Cairo that paid witness to mutual respect, high intellect and high education amongst students. Today however, several cases related to female harassment, robbery and judgement have been surfacing in relation to the University. In light of all this, we decided to bring forth some photographs of women from Cairo University and from the everyday life in Egypt in the 1900s.

“If women were veiled in the 1900s, they would’ve abided to the chicness and classiness of the society at the time like any other woman.”

The images coincidently do not show any veiled women. A veiled woman and an unveiled woman can be equally as classy, chic and free; however, it just happens to be that not many women were veiled in the 1900s which is why none of the images display veiled women. We do however believe that if women were veiled in the 1900s, they would’ve abided to the chicness, classiness and freedom of the society at the time like any other woman, showing women today how the veil should be worn and applied. With that being said, in hopes of reminding you what Cairo University and Egypt in general was to women and in hopes of one day seeing them travel back to their Golden days, here are some images of Cairo University female students and women in Egypt from the 1900s: