CultureTalk Egypt Video Transcripts: http://langmedia.fivecolleges.

edu
Woman and Work in Egypt

Egyptian Arabic transcript:

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English translation:

Woman: I will talk about women … ah … many say that a woman has no opportunity to work
and participate in life, I mean. But I think that … ah … a woman knows how to deal with the
outside world generally at work, at a supermarket, in any place I mean. But there are people who
say that a man is in charge of expenses in a home, in general. So many people say that a woman
is not like a man.1

Man behind camera: And what is your opinion?

Woman: No, I think that a woman must have the same rights as a man -- not in everything, but
at least to work and earn a degree. She won’t come to a certain limit and say, here I’ll stop,2 I
mean.

Man behind camera: You mean a woman can progress ….

Woman: I see a woman today as an engineer able to work in a workshop, to stand in … ah …

among builders, I mean, a physician who is capable of doing everything, I mean, just like a male
physician … ah … a computer, anything. She can start a project on her own, I mean, she can.

1
She means in terms of earning high incomes. Women generate less money than men.
2
She means that a society stops women from getting an education, or pursuing higher education, by using discriminative measures. The woman
doesn’t choose to stop.
Man behind camera: And are there things that a woman cannot accomplish?

Woman: There are.

Man behind camera: Egyptian, in Egyptian society for instance?

Woman: Of course there are; however, I mean … I don’t know

Man behind camera: Like what?

Woman: [Laughing] Like the fact that she doesn’t know how to build, for example. I don’t know
what else.

Man behind camera: And what do you want to do?

Woman: No, I want to continue [studying]. Now I work and study at the same time. I gain a lot
of experience from my study and work.

Man behind camera: What do you work on?

Woman: … ah … what I work on… I mean in an office. I work … I do whatever paperwork [is]
required. I use a computer.

Man behind camera: Are you happy at work?

Woman: So much. I mean, my work is my life.

About CultureTalk: CultureTalk is produced by the Five College Center for the Study of World
Languages and housed on the LangMedia Website. The project provides students of language
and culture with samples of people talking about their lives in the languages they use every day.
The participants in CultureTalk interviews and discussions are of many different ages and walks
of life. They are free to express themselves as they wish. The ideas and opinions presented here
are those of the participants. Inclusion in CultureTalk does not represent endorsement of these
ideas or opinions by the Five College Center for the Study of World Languages, Five Colleges,
Incorporated, or any of its member institutions: Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount
Holyoke College, Smith College and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

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