How Did the Role of Woman Change in the Egyptian Movies Today Compared to the Old Movies - Research Paper Example

?The role of women in Egyptian films Since independence in 1922, Egypt pioneers film production in Africa as well as the Arab countries. Egypt familiarizes itself with other Arabic dialects and hence produces films other Arabic countries can consume. The production of film in Egypt stands at 70 films annually. Egyptian film makers continue to produce feature films and documentary for local and international consumption. Leaders like Nasser, the country’s first president, contribute tremendously to the development of film in Egypt. This is achieved through the support filmmakers receive from the government of Egypt. Egypt films possess ethnographic qualities and depict the situation of life in Egypt. Among the Arab countries, Egypt allows more participation of women in the film industries. Family conservatism, religious issues, male chauvinism and inadequate exposure to the film industry constitute some reasons causing Arab women to stay away from the film. While most Arabs viewed actresses as prostitutes, this view held no water in Egypt. Hence, the participation of Egyptian women in the film never created problems. Egyptian women participate in the film as actors, writers, directors, and even producers. Egyptian women participate both in front or behind the camera. The role of women in film continues to evolve from the black and white era to the 21st century. While the films in the past simply portrayed women as females, recent Egyptian films highlight the contemporary life of the Egyptian woman (Khouri, M, 2010). The woman’s role in the Egyptian society continues to evolve, and filmmakers continue to reflect the changes in the films. The role of women in film continues to evolve from the feminism era during Nasser’s time to tackle fundamental issues facing women in the Egyptian society. 1930s and 1940s This period came immediately after the silent era. Although the picture quality still stood below standard at the time, the films majorly emulated those of old Hollywood. They mainly told stories of high society and low society class members. The films completely ignored the middle class at the time. The women’s role in the films majorly categorized women into two. The two categories included women from rich societies and those from the poor society. The costumes and ornamentation of women in the film connoted the difference in the two types of women. Women from the upper class were portrayed as glamorous and feminine. Meanwhile, men in the films appeared to be fragile, poor or ultra masculine. The portrayal of gender roles at this time created an avenue to show modernization and class in a melodramatic way (Sakr, N, 2004). The Egyptian films at the time also constituted of the theme of love. The films depicted impossible love due to the disparity in class and social status. Women majorly played the role of the female. All they did in the film was waiting for a man to fight for them. The films advanced female weakness and victimization by choosing male actors with feminine features. Hence although, the character tried to fight for his love, he failed and became a victim. Observing films produced between 1930s and 1940s reveals the fact that male victims in films always possessed soft feminine features. Though indirect the passivity and powerlessness of these men in films further made the woman look weak in the society. The negative portrayal of women in the 30s and 40s film continued as women of the higher class represented or symbolized foreign occupation. The high class woman also symbolized the monarchy and its corruption at the time. High class women in the Egyptian films always played the role of a socialite; a conniving woman who always seeks more power and wealth. The women in the films often plotted against their husbands and friends in order to achieve the wealth and power. This portrayal represented what the monarchy and colonial governments did to Egypt. The peasant woman, on the other hand, always played a naive peasant girl. A rich man lies to the gullible girl and uses her. This was achieved either by getting rapped or by losing her virginity to the person (Khouri, M, 2010). The peasant woman’s role reflected the vulnerability of Egypt to the monarchy and foreign occupation. However men’s role in the films also portrayed the frustration and impotency of Egypt despite its independence. The films of the 1930s and 1940s mobilized peoples support against the monarchy and British colonizers. 1950s and 1960s The films during this period shifted their attention to the middle class society in Egypt. The films depicted men and women as children of the revolution. They were the sons and daughters of the new citizenship and nationalist ideas in Egypt. The state of Egypt at this time preached gender equality, class equity and modernization. Hence the state became appealing to the masses. This changed the films from focusing on the class divisions to issues affecting Egypt at the time. Gender tensions and class tensions constituted major themes in the 1950 and 1960 films. The role of women changed from being simply mothers to becoming producers of the socialist state. This change caused confusion among the people which filmmakers recorded between 1950 and 1960. The films not only depicted the new roles of women in the society but also the conflict and challenges the change brought. Tension due to the inclusion of women in the public sphere rose high. This attributed to the fact that, for the first time men in universities, factories, hospitals and other public institutions encountered women and worked with them. Films tried to provide solutions and methods on how to strike a balance in order to handle the changes (Gugler, J, 2011). The 1950s and 1960s are the period of Nasser’s rule. He introduced and promoted state feminism. The main aim of his regime was to modernize Egypt. Britain attributed its occupation of Egypt to the fact that it was helping Egypt become a modern country. Nasser introduced a number of programs to enable women to reform to the new woman. Striking a balance between the progressive womanhood and traditional societal standards became a challenge. The films of this time depicted the transition of women from the 1930s era to the new woman. While the 1930 films portrayed women as housewives whose identity was tied to their husbands, the 1950 film showed the woman as a hardworking person in the community (Sakr, N, 2004). The films also highlighted other struggles that women experienced like marriage, shame, education, work and honor. The comparison of women to the monarchy and colonial occupiers changed to that of nationalist contributing to national projects. The change in the image and role of women in 1930 Egyptian films and 1950 Egyptian films is evident and positive. After 1960, film makers concentrated on contemporary issues of the society. During this time, state feminism remained an issue in the Egyptian society. Film makers continued to reflect this societal issue in their films. The role of women in the society at the time included mothers, wives, citizens and working members of the society. However, the society first expected the women to be mothers and wives before any other role (Khouri, M, 2010). Hence the success of a woman in the public sphere remained tied to their role as a house wife. This led to the marginalization of mothers at around this time. Many films depicted mothers as antagonizing members of the family and society. In 1963, the film Mother of the Bride pioneered a negative depiction of the mother figure. The film tells of a greedy, selfish and capitalist woman living a life she is unable to afford. Hence she pressures her hardworking and polite husband to provide more for her and her children. The pressure on the husband pushes him to steal money from his employer in order to provide a better life. However, the family is destroyed as the husband goes to prison. The mother played by Tahiyya Carioca reflects a negative image of the mother in the Egyptian society at the time. The mother’s negative depiction in the film continues to astonish since she brings up intelligent and responsible daughters. Mother of the Bride (1963) and the empty pillow (1957) is among the films that continued to depict women negatively. The mother denoted pre-revolutionary conventional attitudes linked to the monarchy. The older women were continuously depicted as uncivilized and backward people in the film. Meanwhile, young men and women appeared as progressive and modern citizens. A 1964 film, a film for men only, also depicts the role of women as female. The film revolves around two women determined to advance their geologist careers. Working in the desert to discover oil is their dream. However, their dreams get shuttered when the chauvinistic supervisor declares that the job is for a man not woman. The two women disguise themselves as men and get jobs. However, hardships they encounter in the desert start creating doubts in them on their abilities as women. The film portrays the inability of women to equal men. It also portrays a woman’s first priority as love and getting a husband before a profession (Khouri, M, 2010). The film also insinuates that women cannot have both love and a profession. However, the women later prove all these theories wrong. As time passed the role of women in Egyptian film matured. The role of women in Egyptian films is directly proportional to that of women in the society. Films produced in the 1980s and 1990 represented women as equal members of society. The society at this time accepted that women had equal rights to men. The films portray women as mothers, citizens, business people, civil rights activist and other roles women undertake. The films reflect the challenges and stereotypes that women overcome daily (Gugler, J, 2011). The change in the role of women in film transformed tremendously from the white and black movies. While each period tackled a specific issue or class in society, the film industry addresses all contemporary issues. Films produced feature rich women, peasants, students and middle class people. The film industry captures issues like domestic violence, male chauvinism and unemployment among women. A recent film depicts the problems facing career women today. In the film, a successful talk show host is forced by her husband to tone down her political activism on her talk show to climb his professional ladder. The man is promised a better job position if his wife reduces the political provocation and incitement on her show. The film, tell me a story, already acknowledges the strength and power of a woman. However, the characters try to take advantage of the power the husband possesses over the woman in order to get their way. The film produced in the 20th and 21st century in Egypt acknowledges the ability of a woman to work and make decisions (Sakr, N, 2004). However, the films address the challenges that a woman encounters as she tries to balance the responsibilities of a wife and career woman. The film industry also addresses the problems facing divorced women in the Egyptian society. Divorce is a new concept to Egypt due to their religion and traditions. The issues surrounding divorced women are yet to be reflected in the films. However, a number of Egyptian films portray the role of divorced women in society and the hardships they encounter. Divorce is a concept Egyptians find hard to adopt. However, films like the divorce lawyer (comedy) reflect the society’s take on divorce and enable Egyptians to strike a balance between tradition and new issues. Spinsterhood is another issue that Egyptian filmmakers are keen to produce (Sakr, N, 2004). However, the film makers often face accusations that they stereotype single or unmarried women. Clearly, the role of women in Egyptian films has changed drastically since the white and black era. This is attributed to the changes experienced in society. The change is also associated to the new talent in the Egyptian film industry (Gugler, J, 2011). New filmmakers observe the society in a new way and express this society in the film they make. Films serve as a great influence to the people of Egypt. Hence the film industry influences the attitude of society toward women. References Gugler, J. (2011). Film in the Middle East and North Africa: Creative dissidence. Austin: University of Texas Press. Metwally, H. M. I., & American University in Cairo. (2007). The Role of Egyptian film in stereotyping single women. Khouri, M. (2010). The Arab national project in Youssef Chahine's cinema. Cairo: American University in Cairo Press. Sakr, N. (2004). Women and media in the Middle East: Power through self-expression. London [u.a.: Tauris. Ham, A., & Lonely Planet Publications (Firm). (2009). Middle East. Footscray, Vic: Lonely Planet. Read More