الشرف و دلالاته الاجتماعية في صعيد مصر : دراسة ميدانية في الأنثروبولوجيا الثقافية

Abstract EN

Objective: The study aims to define honor, its symbols in Upper Egypt, and its social significance, trying to discover the cultural practices of honor concept in the research society, and to recognize the relation between the concept of honor and gender.

Methods: The sample of the study comprised 20 informants from the Elshotbiya village, located in Nag Hammadi Center in Qena governorate, in Upper Egypt, whose ages ranged from 20-60 years, and the interview guide was used as an essential tool for the study.

It included four topics: The first focused on the essential data and social characteristics; the second was related to the concept of honor and its social significance; the third focused on honor and its vision from the other, and the fourth was related to cultural practices and attitudes embodied in honor.

The study was based on the anthropological method and symbolical interaction theory as theoretical orientation.

Results: The results showed that the Honor concept is a relative cultural concept that differs among the people of the same society according to the educational level, the social status, and the social class.

Honor is a gender concept, and it is a symbolic capital; protecting honor is the responsibility of men by controlling the women of society.

The elderly, virginity, profession, and taking revenge are cultural symbols of honor in our society.

Norms of honor differ according to gender in society.

Cultural practices, based on the honor concept, still exist in the study society, such as female genital mutilation.

Conclusion: The value system and the cultural context are the most important factors affecting the formation of the concept of honor.