Improving women’s rights in Siwa Oasis Egypt

Submitted by:

Lauren Anglesey

Jenika Avila

Jessica Virgin

Brook Zorn

Salt Lake Community College

Comm 1010

May 7th, 2020

 Table of contents

Executive Summary ……………………………………………………….. 3

Project Description ………………………………………………………… 5

Methods ……………………………………...………………… 6

Problem ………………………………………………………… 6

Analysis ……………………………………………………….... 6

Criteria .…………………………………………………..…… 12

Brainstorm .…………………………………………………..…… 13

Organize .…………………………………………………..…… 14

Conclusion .…………………………………………………..….. 18

Work Cited .…………………………………………………..…... 19

Appendix A .…………………………………………………..….. 21

Appendix B .…………………………………………………..….. 22

Appendix C .…………………………………………………..….. 24

2
Executive Summary

The following is a report of our team, “Oceans 8,” process in solving “What steps can the

international community take to improve women’s rights in Siwa Oasis Egypt?”

Through online meetings and the Dewey Reflective Thinking Sequence, our team came up with

solutions to solve Egypt’s crisis. We first started by researching the characteristics of

discrimination and education, stakeholders of common issues women face, history of women’s

rights, politics with creating an organization to improve female literacy and helping women find

better or new employment, policies by creating rules to establish no discrimination or inequality

to the basis of gender, and resources in the form of feminist organizations that would be

beneficial to creating a solution.

Prioritizing what was most important in the solution, we came up with a chart of criteria to

uncover the best solution. As the group brainstormed ideas, we wanted to come up with a

solution that was fair to everyone. Through compromise in the group, we came up with the best

possible solution for everyone. We came up with many solutions but eventually narrowed it

down by targeting specific goals.

Organizations from across the world are willing to take steps in order to help women across the

world. By partnering these organizations we will be able to specifically target Egypt. From there

the organizations can help build a base of support from within Egypt creating a safe place for

3
women. They will also help women campaign for political power and receive an education. The

two main organizations we will focus on are Global Funding for Women and Center for Feminist

Foreign Policy. Global Funding for Women’s main focus is on helping women campaign for

political power. They will play a major role in helping women gain more power politically.

Center for Feminist Foreign Policy’s main focus is on violence. Due to major issues with sexual

violence towards women in Egypt this organization will be a major role in solving the problem.

By partnering these two organizations, the international community will improve rights for

women in Siwa Oasis.

4
Project Description

Together, the group was tasked to solve the issues of women’s rights in Siwa

Oasis, Egypt. Over the course of 5 meetings and individual research, the group achieved

a solution to the problem. By using Dewey’s Reflective Thinking Sequence, the group

effectively worked as a team to solve the problem that women experience in Siwa Oasis.

We wanted to improve the rights of women on the other side of the world, hence, “what

step can the international community take to improve women’s rights in Siwa Oasis,

Egypt?”

The purpose of the group was to effectively solve this problem, while still

upholding the cultural values of Egypt. We wanted to create a plan that would appeal to

Egypt as a whole, while still improving the lives of many women in Egypt. The task was

daunting, but we were motivated by the idea of improving the lives of all women in

Egypt let alone Siwa Oasis. Reported cases of sexual violence towards women have risen

over the past many years, and the solution has intentions of preventing this for the long

term.

Our solution is effective because we are preventing violence in the future by

taking a stand now. We are building base support for women in Egypt to prevent

conditions from ever being this dangerous again. We fully intend on making a difference

in the world forever’

5
Methods

We started our first meeting by developing a Team Contract stating our tasks and parts in

the project. We discussed our tasks as a team and made sure everyone had an understanding of

what needed to be done. As a team, we decided on consequences that would be put in place for

team members who didn’t participate in the team meetings. For our second team meeting, we

defined the problem we would be focusing on and gave each member a category to research. For

team meeting three we brainstormed our research and decided what ones were the most

important to focus on and to develop a well thought out final solution.

Problem

In our first meeting as a team, we researched the different problems happening in Siwa

Oasis, Egypt. Once we decided to do our project on women’s rights as a team we started our

question “What steps can the international community take to improve women’s rights in Siwa

Oasis Egypt?”

Analysis

In order to fully understand the problem, research was crucial to the process.

Highlighting information about the culture in the present and past of Siwa Oasis, as well as

identifying different feminist organizations to help aid Egypt in their journey to women’s rights.

The research was divided amongst the team, and each part added to the solution.

6
Characteristics

Some of the many issues women face in Siwa Oasis, Egypt consists of sexual assault,

discrimination in the work field, along with being deprived of their education.

“According to a 2013 study by the United Nations, more than 99 percent of all Egyptian

women have been the victim of harassment” (spiegel.de). Giving women more rights could

drastically bring down that percentage.

“an illiteracy rate reaching 40 percent among women there” (eg.undp.org). Men's

education is more of a priority for men to receive than women in Siwa. This can lead to women

being more independent rather than dependent.

Stakeholders

Women's rights are Siwa Oasis Egypt is the modern issue many Egyptian women are facing.

This is an issue that not only affects women, but it affects the whole population. It’s something

that makes everyday life harder. For example, it makes it harder to go to the store, run errands,

and live a life that is not threatened.

The people most affected by our solution will be the female population. They are the ones

that are subject to direct physical, mental, and verbal abuse. It will affect the men as well if this

issue is solved because it will hold them to a higher responsibility for their actions. If more

7
women are in the workforce and higher up in the government in Siwa then other issues could

possibly be solved due to more diverse thinking, leading to better solutions to local problems.

History

The Siwa Oasis in Egypt is known for having a culture where women follow strict orders and

guidelines. The people there are very reserved and modest. Tourists are expected to respect these

customs and dress appropriately. If a young woman were to walk through the town wearing a

casual tank top and shorts, it would be like “walking naked through a stranger's home,”

(lonelyplanet.com). Women there do not show more than their eyes and rarely leave the house.

When visiting the town, women should cover “legs, upper arms, and cleavage,”

(lonelyplanet.com). While men just need to worry about wearing pants instead of shorts.

One of the long-standing traditions for women in Siwa is to not only stay covered at all times but

to stay illiterate. Women in Siwa are discouraged to engage in education besides that of keeping

a household. They can attend school at a young age but most girls were forced to “drop out of

schools and stay at home,” (ictforwoman.gov.eg). Middle school education is what most women

get in Siwa, this way they can become stay at home mothers. You’ll see this in many girls, 17

being the most common age to have children.

While women are expected to drop out of school early and become mothers, men are encouraged

to do the opposite. They get along education and then “travel near and far, domestically and

abroad,” (medium.com). In contrast, women in Siwa are barely seen outside the home. While

8
exploring Siwa, you can expect an “almost absolute absence of women on the street,”

(medium.com).

A big problem that has occurred over in Siwa is the divorce status. In past years, their culture

forced women to live with their husbands even if they were divorced or they wanted to be. If a

man wanted to divorce, all he had to do was say the word and she’d be out on the street.

However, if today a woman wanted a divorce she could obtain it but it would take months in

court and “returned their dowry and other gifts from their husbands and waived their right to

alimony,” (The Globe and Mail).

An easier way for a woman to be divorced is for her to go to a male elder and have him go to the

husband and tell him she wants a divorce and then he can initiate it which would be much easier.

If a man wants a divorce, all he has to do is “file a paper; he doesn’t even have to inform his

wife,” (The Globe and Mail).

Policies and Politics

Discrimination and inequality on the basis of gender in Egypt have been ratified. Egypt has

particular responsibilities under Article 3 ICCPR and Article 3 ICESCR to make sure the equal

enjoyment of men and women have the rights set forth in these Covenants. Under Article 26

ICCPR, Egypt is required to make sure that the regulation ensures “to all people equal and

effective protection against discrimination on any ground…”. Article 26 gives an autonomous,

free-standing proper to non-discrimination which no longer count on the invocation of any

9
different treaty provision. Egypt articulated a common interpretative declaration when ratifying

the ICCPR and ICESCR, stating: “taking into consideration the provisions of the Islamic Sharia

and the fact that they do not conflict with the text annexed to the instrument, we accept, support

and ratify it”. (A Past Still Present, 187.)

In 2008 the UNDP’s ICT trust fund teamed up with the Egyptian Ministry of communication and

information technology and joined forces with the world health organization and other

organizations to launch an initiative that focused on improving female literacy and helping

women find better or new employment. By 2012, the initiative trained 120 women to read and

write using info technology and giving 10 women instructions on how to train future students.

(United Nations Development Programme, 1.)

To bring back traditions in Siwa Oasis the government decided to bring back an art competition

giving both men and women a chance to participate. The Egyptian government will pay interest

to Siwa Oasis due to the fact of its one-of-a-kind historic and cultural characteristics. It takes

place in cooperation with one of the Culture Ministry sectors "the General organization for

Cultural Palaces", that adopted the concept of reviving the challenge of town studios. Such an

initiative has been installed earlier than at the metropolis of Luxor. For example, financial and

logistic support was once supplied for the initiative in a comparable context.

Resources

Numerous organizations and foundations reach out globally to curb the violence to women in

Egypt and globally.

10
Global Funding for Women is an organization​. “Together they campaign against some of the

most pressing issues that women are up against, such as reproductive rights, economic

independence, political empowerment, domestic violence, and sexual assault… they have helped

millions of women gain rights in over 170 countries.” (Global Fund for Women, 1.)

Center for Feminist Foreign Policy​.“Feminist foreign policy involves making domestic and

global gender equality issues a central focus of the government” Partnering with them would

bring awareness to the issue, as well as presenting the violence and assault to a court. (Human

Rights Careers, 2.)

FRIDA​. A resource for young women in need of help. “FRIDA partners with young and

emerging feminist organizations to help them make the most impact on their communities

possible.” (FRIDA, 3.)

Egyptian Feminist Union​. ​ “A meeting was held to discuss the steps of establishing the union.

The attendance agreed to assign AAW (Alliance for Arab Women) to be responsible for

preparing the necessary papers and the legal steps to establish and register the union. Yet, later

steps and decisions by the military council and the government prevent women from

participating in these decisions systemically and in an intended way.” (Egyptian Feminist Union,

1.)

Other
Creating an alliance between some of the organizations listed above and combining
efforts to stop the cruelty. Many of the organizations hold the same values, and combining
efforts of just one or two groups’ impact could be made globally. Through awareness brought by

11
the feminist organizations and political power of the Egyptian Feminist Union and the AAW,
they could easily make a statement and make a change

Criteria

In the second meeting, we formed our own list of what was most important to the

solution. We acknowledged the cultural values in Egypt and decided upon what would be most

important to improve women’s lives as well as make a smooth transition for communities to

have women in power.

Criteria List

1. Impartial views on gender.

2. Create an organization for women to speak freely and anonymously.

3. More leadership positions for women.

4. More schools for women for the purpose of advancing education and furthering careers

for women.

5. A minimum number of women in a workforce in a company.

Goal

Through this list, there is consistency in long term goals for women’s rights. We knew

going into it that the solution would not be quick or easy, so through these criteria, we are

looking at long term effects of women’s rights.

12
Brainstorm

In the third meeting, we formed our own list of possible solutions. Looking over criteria,

and analyzing what possible solutions could be, as a team we brainstormed the best way to solve

this issue. We maintained our values and decided upon these 5 solutions. The top three were the

ideal choice, but they all fit in with what we want the outcome to be as well as prioritizing the

values we set beforehand.

Solution List

1. Bettering education for Women.

2. Partnering feminist organizations from around the world.

3. Helping women campaign for political power.

4. Creating holidays for women.

5. Enforce discrimination laws previously made.

Goal

The ultimate goal was not to upset the balance of power in Siwa Oasis. The group

decided it would be best to take a slower approach. By focusing on one of these 5 solutions, we

would be able to make an impact in Siwa Oasis in a safer way for the women of Egypt and for

the future of Egypt.

13
 Organize

Taking the criteria on the left side of the graph, we compared it to the solutions on the

top. From there, we ranked each solution based on the criteria from 0 to 5, 0 being least

applicable and 5 being most. After ranking each solution, we added the total at the bottom of the

chart.

Criteria Solution 1 Solution 2 Solution 3 Solution 4 Solution 5

Better Partnering Helping women Creating Enforce premade

education organizations campaign for celebratory laws on
for Women political power holidays for discrimination
women

Impartial views 1 3 0 4 3
on gender.

Create an 2 5 4 4 3
organization for
women to speak
freely and
anonymously.

More leadership 4 4 5 2 4
positions for
women.

14
More schools 5 4 3 1 2
for women for
the purpose of
advancing
education and
furthering
careers for
women

A minimum 3 1 3 1 5
number of
women in a
workforce in a
company.

Total: 15 17 15 12 17

Final Solution

The international community can create a partnership between organizations to help

normalize the presence of women in society in Siwa Oasis Egypt.

Possible Barriers to Final Solution

Barrier 1: ​It would take time to get a necessary amount of women into positions of

political power.

Solution:​ Make political positions more accessible and widely known for women.

Barrier 2: ​Funding is low for organizations.

Solution: ​Create more of a base for organizations in European countries and America.

Barrier 3: ​Women may be reluctant to break the standards of society and stand up.

15
 Solution: ​Create a new normal and help empower women through education and

balanced political power.

Possible Negative Consequences of Final Solution

The support and funding could be rejected by everyone in Egypt. Rejection to change

from society as a cultural issue or reluctance to change traditions from both men and women

could slow the process if promoting women’s rights throughout Egypt. Negative reactions could

cause setbacks in the organizations while using the budget which would prevent all necessary

measures from being executed. The more reactions people have towards the new plans of women

being in politics the fewer women will want to be involved in government.

A previous organization in Egypt was shut down due to a lack of support from within

Egypt. The same could happen again. The less support an organization receives, the less power

they have. In an attempt to change society and potentially law of Egypt, funding, and support

would have to remain stable for the plan to be well executed. Organizations must take never seen

before steps to truly make a difference.

Implementation

Steps Person Assigned Due Date

Bring awareness to the issue Jenika 5/7/20

with women’s rights in
Egypt.

Gather support from outside Jessica 5/8/20

16
of Egypt in the form of
people and money.

Combine efforts of different Brook 5/9/20

organizations to create a
collection of organizations to
focus on different aspects.

Touch down in Egypt and Jenika 5/10/20

create a base of support from
within.

Provide safety for women in Lauren 5/11/20

Egypt to start protests for
rights.

Start women campaigns for Brook 5/12/20

political power.

Continue making a path for Lauren 5/12/20

women to follow through
educating.

17
Conclusion

While working on this project we have done a lot of research about women’s rights in

Siwa Oasis, Egypt, and ways we could possibly help solve that problem. We researched what is

already being done to solve our problem and found organizations work on the problem. After

brainstorming we decided that if we helped team up two of the organizations that would be our

main way of getting involved in the problem. We would team up Global Funding for Women

and Center for Feminist Foreign Policy which are the bigger organizations that focus mainly on

sexual assault, better education, equality, and more. By partnering these organizations it would

get the problem spoken about more and faster.

18
 Work Cited

In Siwa, Adapted Technologies Improve Women's Lives. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.eg.undp.org/content/egypt/en/home/ourwork/sustainable-development/successstorie

s/Sample_Success_Story_1.html

Langer, A. (2018, March 23). Almost Every Egyptian Woman Is Subjected to Sexual

Harassment - DER SPIEGEL - International. Retrieved from

https://www.spiegel.de/international/tomorrow/almost-every-egyptian-woman-is-subjected-to-se

xual-harassment-a-1198328.html

Sabry, L. (2002, April 17). Veils of women at Siwa oasis believe their role in the community.

Retrieved from

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/veils-of-women-at-siwa-oasis-belie-their-role-i

n-community/article4141939/

Masry, E. E. (2016, October 17). 5 Common Misconceptions About Egypt's Siwa Oasis.

Retrieved from

https://medium.com/@enaselmasry/5-common-misconceptions-about-egypts-siwa-oasis-61da

116d5383

Accomplished Initiatives. (n.d.). Retrieved from ​http://www.ictforwoman.gov.eg/initv_prev.aspx

19
Lonely Planet. (2019, August 8). 355278: Siwa Oasis/Background/Other Features. Retrieved

from

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/egypt/siwa-oasis/background/other-features/a/nar/2b9821a0-ef6

2-4392-9767-cbaf63602fb8/355278

In Egypt, adapted technology improves women's lives. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/ourwork/ourstories/in-egypt--adapted-technology-i

mproves-women-s-lives.html

The Equal Rights Trust Country Report Series (Ed.). (2018, December). A Past still Present

Addressing Discrimination and Inequality in Egypt. Retrieved from

https://www.equalrightstrust.org/ertdocumentbank/Egypt_EN_online.pdf

Global Fund for Women. (2020, July 4). Retrieved from ​https://www.globalfundforwomen.org/

Feminist Foreign Policy. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://centreforfeministforeignpolicy.org/feminist-foreign-policy/

FRIDA The Young Feminist Fund. (n.d.). Retrieved from ​https://youngfeministfund.org/

Mohamed, A. (n.d.). Retrieved from ​http://www.efuegypt.org/EN/About.aspx

20
Appendix A

Team Contract

Task Roles

● Leader/ Information Giver: Brook

● Editor:/ Summarizer: Jenika

● Recorder/ Clarifier: Lauren

● Administrator/ Critiquer: Jessica

Relational Roles

● Involver/ Spontaneous: Brook

● Harmonizer/ Encourager: Jenika

● Completer/ Listener: Lauren

● Compromiser/ Listener: Jessica

Team Norms

Relational Norms

1. Open-mindedness, keep an open mind about what everyone has to say.

2. Responsibility, taking responsibility for your own work. Ask for help when you need it.

3. Respect, respect group members’ ideas and opinions.

21
 Task Norms

1. Focus on your work and help others when needed.

2. Have good pacing and manage your time.

3. Do your best and have good quality work.

Consequences of Breaking Norms

1. Put in added time and more meetings to discuss what can be done better.

2. Putting in extra research.

3. Completing work as soon as possible and finishing current work.

Consequences of Keeping Norms

1. Shoutout and compliment each other.

2. Personal group meetings later in the afternoon.

3. Lunch breaks to just talk.

Appendix B

Criteria Solution 1 Solution 2 Solution 3 Solution 4 Solution 5

Better Partnering Helping women Creating Enforce premade

education organizations campaign for celebratory laws on
for Women political power holidays for discrimination
women

Impartial views 1 3 0 4 3
on gender.

22
Create an 2 5 4 4 3
organization for
women to speak
freely and
anonymously.

More leadership 4 4 5 2 4
positions for
women.

More schools 5 4 3 1 2
for women for
the purpose of
advancing
education and
furthering
careers for
women

A minimum 3 1 3 1 5
number of
women in a
workforce in a
company.

Total: 15 17 15 12 17

23
 Appendix C

Team Task Calendar

Month: April/May
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Meeting #1: All team Recorder
Create Team members checks
Contract and complete their completion
make Research parts. Team Meeting
Assignments #1

Editor submits
Meeting #1
Check Meeting #2: All team Recorder
Canvas for Team members members checks
the bring Problem complete their completion
upcoming Area researched parts. Team Meeting
meeting and information #2
look at
requirement Editor submits
s Meeting #2
Check Meeting #3: All team Recorder
Canvas for Create a members checks
the Criteria Chart, complete their completion
upcoming decide on a parts. Team Meeting
meeting and solution, and #3
look at brainstorm
requirement devil’s advocate Editor submits
s concerns. Meeting #3

24
 Check Meeting #4: All team Recorder Team members
Canvas for Write Executive members checks individually turn
the Summary complete their completion on in Team Member
upcoming parts the final Evaluation and
meeting and 5 pm version of the Self Evaluation
look at Editor sends executive
requirement Executive summary
s Summary to
team members Editor turns in
for review Executive
Summary,
each team
member
individually
turns in

25