Reporter's Notebook

Words from the mother of modern Egyptian feminism

Mitchell Hartman Mar 7, 2011

Dr. Nawal Al-Saadawi is 80. She is an author, professor, psychiatrist, and feminist activist whose books and organizations were repeatedly banned under the governments of Anwar Sadat and Hosni Mubarak. She went to Tahrir Square during the most violent period of clashes in late January, and was with the protesters until the resignation of Hosni Mubarak on Feb. 11, 2011.

This interview with Al-Saadawi was conducted in her home in the working-class Cairo neighborhood of Shobra on Feb. 26. The next day, Al-Saadawi hosted a group of young activists planning a “Million Woman March” to coincide with International Women’s Day on March 8.

Here’s the rest of my story on feminism rising in Egypt, and see a slideshow of photos.

There’s a lot happening in the world.  Through it all, Marketplace is here for you. 

You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible. 

Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.