Gender equality:

- Definition: Gender equality, also known as sexual equality, is the state of equal ease of access
to resources and opportunities regardless of gender, including economic participation and
decision-making; and the state of valuing different behaviors, aspirations and needs equally,
regardless of gender.

-Gender equality, equality between men and women, entails the concept that all human
beings, both men and women, are free to develop their personal abilities and make choices
without the limitations set by stereotypes, rigid gender roles and prejudices. Gender equality
means that the different behaviour, aspirations and needs of women and men are considered,
valued and favoured equally. It does not mean that women and men have to become the same,
but that their rights, responsibilities and opportunities will not depend on whether they are born
male or female. Gender equity means fairness of treatment for women and men, according to
their respective needs. This may include equal treatment or treatment that is different but which
is considered equivalent in terms of rights, benefits, obligations and opportunities.

— ABC Of Women Worker's Rights And Gender Equality, ILO, 2000. p. 48.

NOTE: According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2015, Egypt has
ranked 136 out of 145 countries in gender equality, ranking lower than Oman and Saudi Arabia.

Women constitute only 26 percent of the labor force, with an estimated annual income of
US$5,218, compared to 79 percent of men with an estimated $17,353..

Feminism and empowerment:

-Definition of feminism : Feminism is a range of political movements, ideologies, and social

movements that share a common goal: to define, establish, and achieve political, economic,
personal, and social equality of sexes. This includes seeking to establish educational and
professional opportunities for women that are equal to those for men.

In short, feminism is about women getting the opportunities that men have always enjoyed.

Empowerment is about giving people the freedom to take stands for themselves. But at times
girls are deprived of this freedom.

How people misunderstand feminism:

 “You are a feminist? Oh My God...why do you hate men?”

-Apparently “feminism” was synonymous to male-hating, men-bashing, and female-superiority.

Misunderstanding this word had evidently caused many people--both men and women--to hate
it and stir away from it.

-Some people believe that the feminist movement aims to establish a female dominance in the
world while feminism in its true sense aims to establish a world where no gender supersedes the
other.

- Men can be feminists too.

-This is far from reality. In fact, feminism involves making the world a place with no gender
roles, where no gender poses a threat to the other. Where men and women co-exist as equals.
Where it is okay for a woman to open the door for a man, just as it is for a man to open the door
for a woman. Where they compliment each others’ work and work together to build a better
society.