DailynewsegyptDailynewsegyptDailynewsegypt July 19, 2025
  • Home
  • Business
    BusinessShow More
    Karem Badawi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources with Khalid bin Saleh Al-Mudaifer, Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Mining Affairs
    Minister of Petroleum discusses mining cooperation with Saudi Arabia
    July 16, 2025
    Nissan Patrol Debuts in Egypt from EGP 8.99m at Exclusive North Coast Launch
    Nissan Patrol Debuts in Egypt from EGP 8.99m at Exclusive North Coast Launch
    July 16, 2025
    Sukari Gold Mine showcases successful public–private partnership: Minister of Petroleum
    Sukari Gold Mine showcases successful public–private partnership: Minister of Petroleum
    July 16, 2025
    GAFI chief highlights tax incentives, licensing reforms to boost mining investment
    GAFI chief highlights tax incentives, licensing reforms to boost mining investment
    July 16, 2025
    Egypt's Petroleum Minister, SLB discuss exploration and production support
    Egypt’s Petroleum Minister, SLB discuss exploration and production support
    July 16, 2025
  • Politics
    PoliticsShow More
    Israel escalates airstrikes on Syria amid surging violence in Suwayda
    Israel escalates airstrikes on Syria amid surging violence in Suwayda
    July 16, 2025
    Syria says it will defend its territory after Israeli strikes in Suwayda
    Syria says it will defend its territory after Israeli strikes in Suwayda
    July 15, 2025
    Al-Sisi reviews Egypt’s food security, strategic commodity reserves
    Al-Sisi reviews Egypt’s food security, strategic commodity reserves
    July 15, 2025
    Aamir Shouket
    Pakistan Eyes Deeper Economic and Defence Ties with Egypt, Says Ambassador
    July 15, 2025
    The Complicity of Major US Corporations in Sustaining the War on Gaza
    Opinion | The Complicity of Major US Corporations in Sustaining the War on Gaza
    July 15, 2025
  • Interviews
    InterviewsShow More
    Myriam Fares
    I live art as I live motherhood; with passion, awareness and determination: Myriam Fares
    July 16, 2025
    Aamir Shouket
    Pakistan Eyes Deeper Economic and Defence Ties with Egypt, Says Ambassador
    July 15, 2025
    Nancy Ajram
    Nancy Ajram: Singing in Morocco has unique magic — ‘Warana Eih’ signals new chapter
    July 9, 2025
    From Al Mashroa X to The Seven Dogs: Karim Abdel Aziz charts new era for Egyptian film
    From Al Mashroa X to The Seven Dogs: Karim Abdel Aziz charts new era for Egyptian film
    July 1, 2025
    Rania Yehia
    When Egypt strikes chord in Rome: Rania Yehia and symphony of cultural diplomacy
    June 18, 2025
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
Font ResizerAa
DailynewsegyptDailynewsegypt
Font ResizerAa
  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Interviews
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
Search
  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Interviews
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
Follow US
Dailynewsegypt > Blog > Lifestyle > In Pictures: It was meant to be a joyful day!
Lifestyle

In Pictures: It was meant to be a joyful day!

Daily News Egypt
Last updated: September 7, 2015 3:58 am
Daily News Egypt
Share
5 Min Read
SHARE

What if we went back in time to the early 19th century, when “El-Melaya El-Laf” was the main outfit for Egyptian ladies?

A question popped into our minds, leaving no space for any other idea to compete, to travel back in time to an era in which the definition of beauty and feminism was far removed from the current worldwide norms.

“El-Melaya El-Laf” is a folkloric outfit that used to be worn by women over their garments in the early 19th century to conceal the body. It was soon replaced with foreign styles of clothing after the 1919 revolution. Yet, it stayed the middle class’s unique dress code until the late 1980s.

Nowadays, local drama shows always insist on featuring negative stereotypes related to “El-Melaya El-Laf”, and it is always portrayed as being worn by immoral women.

Shooting the reactions of people seeing a lady from the past walking around and dealing with them normally, was an unforgettable experience.

“Souk El-Etnen” (Monday Market) is a local shopping destination for the C class, located in Sayeda Zeinab.

“All people at the beginning were shocked,” said Maydaa El-Nadar, the heroine of the experience.  “A few minutes after standing in the street to take a taxi, a man insulted us, saying, “May God take His revenge against you”.”

El-Nadar narrated her experience: “Afterwards, we were continuously hearing verbal and sexual abuse from men, and even young boys in the street. It came to my mind, ‘Is their life empty to stay in the street, staring at people who are enjoying their time? Are they that miserable to try their best to bother women and girls in the street?’”

After a while, it was normal to find people starring at El-Nadar, men with admiring looks whilst women looked with envy.

“When I was buying a banana, the seller asked me “Are you Egyptian?” I told him no, asking myself what is wrong with an Egyptian girl wearing traditional clothing and going to the market,” El-Nadar added.

Soon after, many people gathered around her. “A man asked a woman to hit me as he sees me as impolite, and another one tried to approach me, that’s when I felt I had to walk away from this place,” El-Nadar said.

While trying to stop a taxi, the camera which was shooting the scene got broken by an angry man who was trying to hit her. “I felt humiliated to live in this country. This country humiliates its women,” Amany Kamal, the photographer, said.

“When the banana seller came to defend us, unfortunately he was violently hit. The taxi driver also was hit for our sake, and they blamed him for not being a man. So basically we were blamed for being prostitutes, and the two men who defended us were blamed for not being men,” Kamal added.

The next day, they went to a slightly better neighbourhood to see if reactions would be more tolerant. Luckily, people were much nicer, more welcoming and happy with them.

That did not prevent, however, the non-stopping questions they faced from almost every person who ran into them, but at least people tended to understand and not judge.

“In the end, I’m quite satisfied with the experience,” concluded El-Nadar. “I dislike the way our society deals with women, yet this is my only way to fight it.”

Unlike her, Kamal felt annoyed with the experience, saying: “The only feeling that controlled me while taking the pictures was fear. I was always afraid something might happen to her or someone might harm her.”

All photos taken by Amany Kamal

To follow Daily News Egypt on WhatsApp press here

To follow Daily News Egypt on Telegram press here

Easy Taxi app is aptly named
Indian festival lifts gold sales in Gulf, says WGC
Drowning killed Houston but drugs took high toll
Earth Murals: A common language through design
Love Matters website for sexual education launches an Arabic version
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print

You Might Also Like

Sewedy Cables Q2 net jumps on higher sales

August 7, 2015
Lifestyle

In Pictures: A man living in the middle of nowhere

May 30, 2015
Fashion & DesignLifestyle

Salma AlSaady encapsulates “Shades of Morocco” with leather masterpieces

June 14, 2017
Beyond The Story- BTS biography is a humanising, literary portrayal of K-pop’s world-leading stars
Lifestyle

Beyond The Story: BTS biography is a humanising, literary portrayal of K-pop’s world-leading stars

August 12, 2023
//
Egypt’s only independent daily newspaper in English. Discuss the country’s latest with the paper’s reporters, editors, and other readers.

Quick Link

  • home
  • Advertise with us
  • Developers
  • Subscribe with us
  • careers
  • Terms of service
  • Get In Touch
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?