Gender equity perspectives among a group of upper egyptians : impgication of traditional proverbs

Abstract EN

Goal : formulation of strategies to help using proverbs in enhancing gender equity.

Objectives : to explore gender equity perspectives in the light of the traditional proverbs.

As well, to investigate gender parity related "cultural markers".

Setting: One of the villages in Giza, Rural Upper Egypt.

Design : this is an exploratory, community based and policy oriented research.

Methodology: Qualitative methods were principally used to collect data from adults; 48 males and 33 females of varied age and educational levels.

Thirteen focus group discussions and two in-depth interviews were conducted with a total of 81 informants.

Thematic analysis, content analysis and ethnographic quotations were carried out for data interpretation.

Results : the study males and females had variable views and attitudes with regard to traditional proverbs that reflect different social images of gender relations.

Some aspects of discrimination against females still prevail which may threaten their health whether directly and / or indirectly.

Economic and educational levels as well as communal experiences are paramount cultural markers in determining discrimination against females.

Conclusions & Recommendations : modifying the cultural markers that sensitize people against females requires multidisciplinary micro-planning and community mobilization at the grass root levels.

Focus groups provide important information on the insight and concern pf people about gender issues.

In traditional rural communities, proverbs can still play a promising role in instructing people about the value of gender parity to the health of all males and females.