The Egyptian Female Writers Society has protested against “the bad and distorted image of the Egyptian woman as depicted in the drama series aired on TV during Ramadan,” according to the London-based Arabic daily Al Sharq Al Awsat.
The feminists decided to send a telegram to the Egyptian Minister of Information, Safwat Al Sherif protesting against at least three drama series shown on Egyptian stations as well as on dozens of Arab satellite channels.
“The image depicted in these series about the Egyptian woman has no relation with reality. These series ignore the actual role of women in the society which is based on effective participation in family formation, production and work outside the house,” the writers said in their telegram.
The society member Azza Heikal told participants in a meeting held at the Egyptian Writers Union that “the TV drama during Ramadan depicts the Egyptian woman in bad image and as a constant symbol of evil. This is very clear in Magdi Saber’s series Lil Adalah Wujooh Kathira (Justice Has Many Faces).”
“The plot in the series Banat Afkari (My Brainchildren) in not realistic. How can a wife who loves her husband and sacrifices for him become a careless lady who neglects her husband and daughters and gets married to an alcoholic,” said Heikal, adding that the series attempted to highlight a new and strange image for a young girl who loves an old man. This is a kind of abnormality, which we should counter for the sake of the integrity of the Egyptian family.
Heikal said, “the series A’elat Al Hag Mitwalli (Hag Mitwalli’s family) exhibits unconvincing and ridiculous scenes nobody would believe or interact with. The Egyptian TV should take no interest in such series and refrain from airing them to people in their houses. These series threaten the Egyptian society and incite women abuse by their husbands, like what Hag Mitwalli, the polygamist who hates education and sees no meaningful activity in life other than marriage and commerce.”
“Drama writers should understand that they have a mission and important role in developing and serving their society rather than defaming and isolating one of its key elements by depicting her as a mere helpless tool of pleasure,” added Heikal.
On the other hand, the series Hag Mitwalli aroused an extensive wave of controversy in the Egyptian parliamentary circles, according to the UAE daily Al Bayan.
The series angered female MPS who also responded to calls by young and old women who have sent them dozens of letters and contacted them by phone many times over the past few days. These ladies demanded halting the series out of their fear that husbands or the youth at the age of marriage might imitate Hag Mitwalli and their concern over the possibility of the spread of this phenomenon, which poses a serious danger to the Egyptian family -- Albawaba.com
