How The Promotion of Women's Political Rights is Backfiring: The Case of Egypt

This book investigates the interplay between women, media & politics in Egypt. It uses theories of authoritarianism & corporatism to analyze how the state deals with women’s activists & their access to the media, with particular emphasis on the privately owned media. Also, the book uses the notion of state feminism to analyze the Egyptian government's approach to 'women's issues' & how it relates to media treatment of women & their rights. In addition, the book draws on theories of post & neo colonialism to analyze how efforts in the area of women’s rights by both the government & activists relate to the international framework, which promotes a specific version of women’s rights. Furthermore, the book investigates middle-class Egyptian women's views on women's political participation & their reception of political drama. As a result, the book breaks new ground in theorizing the relationship between the state and women’s activists and thus explains the activists’ media access. It also develops the notion of state feminism & relates it to the media. Furthermore, the study reveals and theorizes how the privately owned media in Egypt is subtly controlled by the state.

Dr. Aliaa Dawoud is a holder of a Doctorate of Philosophy from the School of Media, Arts & Design at the University of Westminster. She is also the holder of a Master of Arts & Bachelor of Arts in Journalism & Mass Communication from the American University in Cairo. Her main research interest is Egyptian and/or Arab women and media.