Egyptian Culture
Culture is defined as a learned and shared behavior by a
group of people that gives them a distinct "way of life". Culture has
two components: abstract and material. Abstract culture refers to values,
religion, traditions, speech, etc., and material culture refers to physical
things such as, tools, technology, housing, etc. (Rowntree)
Egypt in a Globalizing World
Egypt is ultimately becoming a part of the globalized world.
Organizations have been put in place to begin improving historical locations in
Egypt.The Egyptian economy is being targeted for globalization
efforts as well. They are working on creating jobs, which will ultimately increase
the standard of living throughout the country. Egypt’s economy began to decline
in the 1980s when oil prices tanked, and the decline resulted in deficits in
trade and an enormous foreign debt. In order for Egypt to rise above their
deficits, higher education is a must. (Urschel) They have started to address this
issue, and if it is approached correctly, it can be accomplished. Egypt is moving toward a free-market economy,
but the influence of Islam makes that a difficult task. Islamic individuals
tend to be less tolerant and nondemocratic, which complicates a market system
that is built on compromise. (Jamal)
Gender Roles in Egypt
In modern Egypt, women and men have different roles to play.
The men are workers and financially responsible, and the women are child
bearers and house keepers. Poverty, malnutrition, dependency, and illiteracy
are just a few examples of the imbalance between women and men in Egypt. Women
are more likely to suffer from these instances than men. (Sullivan) Women and
men have the same legal rights, but the location of their jobs determines their
pay scale. For instance, in a formal work setting men and women receive equal
pay, but in a rural setting the women are paid less than the men. Status is
another indicator that women and men are treated unequally in Egypt. Women cannot
claim Egyptian nationality status over their children, only the men can.
Recently, feminist groups have emerged to fight for equal rights between the
two genders. (Countries and Their Cultures)
Figure 1
Language in Egypt
Arabic speech is the most common language spoken in Egypt,
and English and French are the most common foreign languages spoken there. Arabic
was brought to Egypt when the Muslim influence began in the country around the
seventh century. The Arabic language is depicted differently between the spoken
word and the language of the Koran. There are many different dialects that can
be heard throughout Egypt. The most recognized one is that of the people of
Upper Egypt. Although Arabic is the most widespread language, the media
broadcasts in Cairo, and their broadcasts are then translated into the common
Arabic language.
Egyptian Religions
Religious affiliations and traditions are crucial in
Egyptian culture. The vast majority of the Egyptian population are Sunni
Muslims with Coptic Christians, Jews, and other Christian denominations to
follow. Although a percentage of the population is Christian, all members of
Egyptian society have Islamic values. (Mahoney) The only way to distinguish
between religions is Muslim dress and Christian tattoos on the right wrist. The
boundaries between Egyptian religions are apparent, and neither promote
intermarriage or conversion. (Countries and Their Cultures)
Figure 2
Works Cited
Rowntree, Les, Martin Lewis, Marie Price, and William
Wyckoff. "Chapter 1: Concepts of World Geography." Globalization and
Diversity Geography of a Changing World. Fourth ed. Upper Saddle River: Pearson
Education, 2014. Print.
Urschel, Donna. "Egypt: Yesterday and TomorrowLibrary
Symposium Examines Egypt's Globalization." <i>Egypt: Yesterday and
Tomorrow (May 2000)</i>. Library of Congress. Web. 26 Nov. 2014.
<http://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/0005/egypt.html>.
Sullivan, Earl. "The Public Role of Women in Modern
Egypt." <i>Catherine College Library</i>. Syracuse University
Press, 1 Jan. 1986. Web. 26 Nov. 2014.
<http://www.catherinecollegelibrary.net/college/sullivan2.asp>.
Jamal, Amaney, and Milner, Helen. "Economic and
Cultural Sources of Preferences for Globalization in Egypt."
<i>Social Science Research Network</i>. Social Science Electronic
Publishing, Inc., 1 Jan. 2013. Web. 26 Nov. 2014.
<http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2300075>.
"Countries and Their Cultures." Culture of Egypt.
Web. 25 Nov. 2014. <http://www.everyculture.com/Cr-Ga/Egypt.html>.
Mahoney, Jessica. "The Culture of Egypt." Travel
Tips. USA Today. Web. 25 Nov. 2014.
<http://traveltips.usatoday.com/culture-egypt-32949.html>.
Figure 1. http://mideastposts.com/middle-east-society/feminist-activism-in-arab-world-diverse-approaches/
Figure 2. http://www.henryherald.com/news/2013/jul/09/freedom-worship-henry/
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