as founded in 1923 (Badran and Cooke xv). The creation of the Egyptian Feminist Union "represented a symbolic and pragmatic announcement of the rejection of a whole way of life built on hiding and silencing women" (Badran and Cooke xv).
From the time of the founding of the Egyptian Feminist Union in 1923 through 1939, the women's movement in Egypt was representative primarily of women in the country's upper and middle social classes (Khater and Nelson, 465-469). Social and political issues affecting women during this period generally were kept separate. The Egyptian government generally tolerated the independent feminist movement during this period (Badran and Cooke xvii). During this phase of the Egyptian women's movement, the harem system ended, and the wearing of the veil began to disappear among upper and middle class Egyptian women (Badran and Cooke xxiv).
The second phase of the Egyptian women's movement beginning in 1940 and extending through 1959 witnessed a diversification among women in ideology, tactics, and goals (Khater and Nelson, 470). Identification with women's issues expanded beyond upper and middle class Egyptian women during this period. The Egyptian Feminist Union ceased to be the central focus for the women's movement during this period, as attempts were made by a diverse group of women's organizations to link women's issues with other political and social concerns such as the nationalist movement and the class struggle (Khater and Nelson 470-476).
The contemporary phase of the women's movement in Egypt began in 1960, although real impetus for the advancement of the cause did not develop until 1970 (Badran and Cooke xviii). The current Egyptian Constitution was approved by referendum in September 1971. Since 1971, the Egyptian population has increased from somewhat over 30 million persons to approximately 53 million. Population growth has been so rapid that Egypt has...