The Struggle of Egyptian Women for Equal Rights Continues: Two Steps Forward, One Step Backward

Abstract

I often wonder what happened to the women of ancient Egypt who led armies and ruled vast empires as early as 7000 years ago. What was it that went wrong and caused them to have to start all over again in the nineteenth century? Why were they relegated to vulnerable roles so often in need of male protection? Was it the many invading armies with their diverse cultures, or the invading religions that treated women as inferior? What caused this steady decline in women’s participation in decision-making processes over the years?