The Digital Unveiling: Radical Feminist Revolt and Activism in Egypt

SHEREEN SHAW; GHADA NAKHLA

The Digital Unveiling: Radical Feminist Revolt and Activism in Egypt

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

Abstract

Arab societies are characterized by heteronormativity, masculinity, and patriarchy, yet women play an undeniable role in family life. The perception of Arab women as objects under male-dominated systems has been critiqued through scholarship and Orientalist stereotypes rooted in colonial views. This chapter examines such misrepresentations by exploring online activism and radical resistance during the Arab Spring in Egypt. Egyptian women’s fight for rights is longstanding; their involvement in movements like HarassMap and #AnaKaman highlights ongoing gender violence and inequality. The chapter argues that women's status is evolving, opening new avenues for empowerment and highlighting the use of digital platforms as radical tools to resist patriarchal systems. The chapter uses a qualitative approach, analysing online feminist campaigns and Egyptian grassroots movements to explore the challenges and costs of these movements persisting in pushing boundaries for learning, social justice, and transformational change.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Warwick Series in the Humanities
Subtitle of host publication	University of Warwick
Editors	Raad Khair Allah
Publisher	Routledge
Publication status	Accepted/In press - 6 Oct 2025

Publication series

Name	Warwick Series in the Humanities, Routledge
Publisher	Routledge

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 5 Gender Equality
SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Keywords

Digital
patriarchy
oppression
activism
Arab culture
Egyptian Feminism
Egyptian Revolution
Gender

Research Groups

Inequalities, Health & Wellbeing
Transformative Education

Cite this

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title = "The Digital Unveiling: Radical Feminist Revolt and Activism in Egypt",

abstract = "Arab societies are characterized by heteronormativity, masculinity, and patriarchy, yet women play an undeniable role in family life. The perception of Arab women as objects under male-dominated systems has been critiqued through scholarship and Orientalist stereotypes rooted in colonial views. This chapter examines such misrepresentations by exploring online activism and radical resistance during the Arab Spring in Egypt. Egyptian women{\textquoteright}s fight for rights is longstanding; their involvement in movements like HarassMap and \#AnaKaman highlights ongoing gender violence and inequality. The chapter argues that women's status is evolving, opening new avenues for empowerment and highlighting the use of digital platforms as radical tools to resist patriarchal systems. The chapter uses a qualitative approach, analysing online feminist campaigns and Egyptian grassroots movements to explore the challenges and costs of these movements persisting in pushing boundaries for learning, social justice, and transformational change.",

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N2 - Arab societies are characterized by heteronormativity, masculinity, and patriarchy, yet women play an undeniable role in family life. The perception of Arab women as objects under male-dominated systems has been critiqued through scholarship and Orientalist stereotypes rooted in colonial views. This chapter examines such misrepresentations by exploring online activism and radical resistance during the Arab Spring in Egypt. Egyptian women’s fight for rights is longstanding; their involvement in movements like HarassMap and #AnaKaman highlights ongoing gender violence and inequality. The chapter argues that women's status is evolving, opening new avenues for empowerment and highlighting the use of digital platforms as radical tools to resist patriarchal systems. The chapter uses a qualitative approach, analysing online feminist campaigns and Egyptian grassroots movements to explore the challenges and costs of these movements persisting in pushing boundaries for learning, social justice, and transformational change.

AB - Arab societies are characterized by heteronormativity, masculinity, and patriarchy, yet women play an undeniable role in family life. The perception of Arab women as objects under male-dominated systems has been critiqued through scholarship and Orientalist stereotypes rooted in colonial views. This chapter examines such misrepresentations by exploring online activism and radical resistance during the Arab Spring in Egypt. Egyptian women’s fight for rights is longstanding; their involvement in movements like HarassMap and #AnaKaman highlights ongoing gender violence and inequality. The chapter argues that women's status is evolving, opening new avenues for empowerment and highlighting the use of digital platforms as radical tools to resist patriarchal systems. The chapter uses a qualitative approach, analysing online feminist campaigns and Egyptian grassroots movements to explore the challenges and costs of these movements persisting in pushing boundaries for learning, social justice, and transformational change.

KW - Digital

KW - patriarchy

KW - oppression

KW - activism

KW - Arab culture

KW - Egyptian Feminism

KW - Egyptian Revolution

KW - Gender

UR - https://www.brismes.ac.uk/files/documents/Raad%20Khair%20Allah-s%20Edited%20Collection%20CFP.%20LOGO.pdf

M3 - Chapter

T3 - Warwick Series in the Humanities, Routledge

BT - Warwick Series in the Humanities

A2 - Khair Allah , Raad

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ER -

The Digital Unveiling: Radical Feminist Revolt and Activism in Egypt

Abstract

Publication series

UN SDGs

Keywords

Research Groups

Other files and links

Fingerprint

A critical reflection on Egyptian Feminism and Psychology: Nawal El Saadawi, the best loved, most hated and best-known feminist in the Arab world.

The Case of the Arab Woman

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