Introduction
Two excellent sources for learning about 19th-century Egyptian society and culture are Edward Lane’s “An Account of the Manners and Customs of the Modern Egyptians” and Rifa’a Rafi’ al-Tahtawi’s “An Imam in Paris.” Their ideas on Egypt and its people were fresh because they were not natives. Al-Tahtawi (an Egyptian) was sent to Paris, and Lane (a British Orientalist) was sent to Egypt with the support of their respective governments so that they could return with information that would help them improve their respective countries.
Comparing the two books’ depictions of gender roles and attitudes toward women in ancient Egyptian society could be an interesting point of comparison. Gender roles and views toward women are significant features of any community, and learning about them can shed light on the norms and beliefs of that society as a whole. Although Lane and al-Tahtawi both discuss gender roles and societal attitudes toward women in Egypt, their depictions of women are substantially distinct.
Gender Roles and Attitudes Towards Women in Lane’s Narrative
Edward Lane’s “An Account of the Manners and Customs of the Modern Egyptians” presents women as second-class citizens with fewer rights than men. When it came to their male relatives and husbands, women were supposed to be submissive and subservient, as stated by Lane. Women were restricted to the home and could not interact with men outside their close families. Lane says, “The wife must be contented to see her husband but once a day, or, perhaps, once a week” (Lane, 1).
Domestic tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and childcare fell primarily on the shoulders of women. In addition, Lane offers a comprehensive analysis of female circumcision, which was widely practiced in Egypt throughout the 19th century. The technique was “a most barbarous operation,” according to Lane, who calls it “performed upon girls from the age of two years and upwards” (Lane, 6). It was thought that female circumcision would help women maintain their virginity and make them better wives.
Early marriage and circumcision were both standard practices in Egyptian culture. Unlike in England, Lane claims, “the age of puberty is very early in Egypt, and hence it is that girls are generally married at a much earlier age than in England” (Lane, 1). Lane’s narrative depicts gender roles and attitudes toward women in Egyptian culture, implying that women were viewed as subservient to men and expected to perform traditional gender roles within the home.
Gender Roles and Attitudes Towards Women in al-Tahtawi’s “An Imam in Paris”
Rifa’a Rafi’ al-” An Tahtawi’s Imam in Paris” offers a more nuanced representation of gender roles and views toward women in Egyptian society than that presented by Lane. When compared to the gender roles and views towards women in Europe at the period, Al-Tahtawi emphasizes women’s independence and agency in Egyptian society.
Al-Tahtawi writes that compared to their European contemporaries, Egyptian women were “much freer and more active” (al-Tahtawi, 1). He explains how women were accepted into society and invited to events where they could voice their opinions on public issues. Women were also business owners and entrepreneurs in the ancient world.
In addition, al-Tahtawi stresses the significance of education in Egyptian society, particularly for women. He believes women should be afforded the same educational and professional possibilities as men. As al-Tahtawi points out, the education of women is just as crucial as the education of men (al-Tahtawi, 3). Khadija, the Prophet Muhammad’s first wife, was a successful businesswoman and a prominent community member. He uses this as an example of women’s leadership roles in society.
Comparison of the Portrayal of Gender Roles and Attitudes Towards Women
The authors’ perspectives significantly affect how they depict gender roles and treat women in the two books. Lane, a British Orientalist, addresses the topic from a Western viewpoint that emphasizes the oppression of women in ancient Egyptian culture. Al-Tahtawi, on the other hand, writes from the perspective of a modern Egyptian who has been exposed to Western culture. Women in Egypt, for instance, are given rights to equal protection under the law and equal access to education and positions of leadership that they would not have in Western cultures, as al-Tahtawi points out (al-Tahtawi, 2). Despite their disagreements, historians Lane and al-Tahtawi agree on some points of agreement.
As explained in detail by Lane, clitoris excision is a surgical operation in which the clitoris and, in some cases, the labia minora are removed from young females between the ages of four and ten (Lane 1). Likewise, al-Tahtawi argues that female circumcision is widespread in Egypt, and he condemns this practice as damaging and needless (al-Tahtawi, 2). However, Al Tahtawi reveals that women’s roles swiftly evolved during the 19th century, in contrast to Lane’s interpretation, which emphasizes women’s submissive status in Egyptian society. For instance, al-Tahtawi highlights the growing participation of Egyptian women in public life and their assumption of leadership roles in fields like medicine and education (al-Tahtawi, 2). This may indicate that the representation of women in Egyptian culture is dynamic and open to change.
Conclusion
Significant disparities in perspective and historical context exist between Edward Lane’s story and Rifa’a Rafi’s narrative when examining the depiction of gender roles and views towards women in Egyptian society. In contrast to Lane’s portrayal of women as passive and limited to household responsibilities, al-Tahtawi shows a society where women have more independence and freedom, participate in public life and even assume leadership positions. However, there are also historical parallels between the two texts that shed light on the changing status of women in ancient Egyptian culture.
Works Cited
al-Tahtawi, Rifa’a. “An Imam in Paris: An Account of a Stay in France by an Egyptian Cleric, (a Translation of Takhlis Al-Ibriz Fi Talkhis Baris).” Daniel Newman, transl.) London: Saqi Books (2004).
Lane, Edward William. An Account of the Manners and Customs of the Modern Egyptians: Written in Egypt During the Years 1833,-34, and-35, Partly from Notes Made During a Former Visit to that Country in the Years 1825,-26,-27, and-28. J. Murray, 1860.