ABSTRACT
Springtime is an interesting phenomenon in Egypt: flowers do bloom, but sandstorms (khamasseen) ensue, making it one of the toughest seasons of all. Women’s encounter with the Egyptian uprising of 25 January, or the ‘Egyptian Spring’, is similar to Egypt’s springtime. Their presence on Tahrir Square during the uprising was eminent. During the 18-day uprising, Egyptian women demonstrated side by side with Egyptian men. The struggle against the dictatorship and the common goal of ousting Muhammad Hosni Mubarak was far greater than gender politics. Nevertheless, with the emergence of the turbulent transitional period, from the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), to the Muslim Brotherhood’s hold on power, women’s rights and their role in the governance process of Egypt was largely neglected.
