Photos: Women after the Arab Spring
Although they were on the front lines of the battle that ousted Hosni Mubarak, women in post-revolutionary Egypt continue to be oppressed by a rigid and entrenched patriarchal system. Overthrowing it, they say, will require even more courage and determination than it took to unseat a dictator.
Samira Ibrahim, 25, was a victim of a forced virginity test after being detained in Tahrir Square a year ago. She took the military-led government to court over the practice.Heidi Levine/The Globe and Mail
An Egyptian woman and her child pass a painting of women near Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt.Heidi Levine/The Globe and Mail
Sally Sami started out as a blogger and says, "The revolution has benefited men more than women." She adds police are punishing women for the revolution and believes that's why violence against women is increasing.Heidi Levine/The Globe and Mail
Someya Adel Torky is a member of the moderate Islamist Egyptian Current Party. " It's a good time to be an Egyptian woman. Things are a little better for women, now, and they're going to become a lot better. The next parliament will have many more women. We need another revolution to take down the patriarchal system."Heidi Levine/The Globe and Mail
Young Egyptian women use a laptop near the Alexandria Library in Alexandria, Egypt.Heidi Levine/The Globe and Mail
Young Egyptian women at leisure on a Friday afternoon at the Al Ahzar park in Cairo.Heidi Levine/The Globe and Mail