Ancient Egyptian men were seen as the leaders of society during all ancient dynasties. Men were considered superior physically and mentally. Men were not only responsible for stereotypical male work, but also for artistic work. Men wrote poetry, an act which women were rarely involved in. The majority of authors were men and the majority of narrators were also men. I was surprised to find that men were accepted as the main artists, since in the eras to come art wasn't considered masculine. Men were typically shown to be superior to women in art, as well. Sculptures depicted men as attractive, young, and largely built. "Manly" features were exaggerated and men were always shown as being taller than women. The role of men in ancient Egypt is unsurprisingly when compared to the stereotypical role of men throughout the world ("Gender Roles," 2000).
Modern Egyptian women are generally treated with respect, unlike some of the neighboring countries. Women are free to wear Western clothing, however they frequently express modesty. This modesty stems from the traditional cultural view of virginity in the country ("Egypt Culture and Traditions," n.d.). Egyptian men will marry a woman who is not a virgin; however, their attitudes towards them are much harsher than that of the Western world. Men can be victims of disrespect if they marry a woman who is not a virgin. I find that many women do not understand the level of disrespect they receive since they don't know any better. Although this cultural view of virginity does restrict women, they are respected as leaders and in business and other professions. Egyptian woman as leaders is not as common as the Western world, but they are still respected and have a high success rate ("Egypt Culture and Traditions," n.d.). Although women of Egypt do not suffer as greatly as women in Iraq or Iran, the women here are still greatly disrespected and suppressed in comparison to American women.
Modern Egyptian men follow a generally stereotypical "macho" role in the family. The father is expected to teach sons masculinity. The men are also the primary bread winner in the family, as they are responsible for finally supporting the family ("Gender and Family," n.d.). Men are allowed to punish their wive's through violence with the law typically on their side. Egyptian men follow traditional, stereotypical gender roles in Modern Egypt.
Sources
Ancient Egypt: Gender Roles and Relationships. (2000, January 1). Retrieved September 12, 2014, from http://www.reshafim.org.il/ad/egypt/people/gender.htm
Egypt - Gender And Family. (n.d.). Retrieved September 12, 2014, from
http://family.jrank.org/pages/439/Egypt-Gender-Family.html
Egypt Culture and Traditions. (n.d.). Retrieved September 12, 2014, from
http://www.ask-aladdin.com/Egypt-Travel-Tips/egypt_culture.html