Egyptian state feminism on the silver screen? The depicition of the 'new woman' in Egyptian films of the Nasser era (1954-1967)

This thesis focuses on the depiction of women in Egyptian films during the Nasser era. Filmmakers of the 1950s and 60s used melodramatic realism, a style that incorporated drama and social problems in their films in order to portray Egyptian life during a time of change. Films of this era differed from films of the 1930s and 40s since films of that era focused on depicting the nationalist struggle against the British occupation, whereas films of the 1950s and 60s focused on the introduction of new policies under the umbrella of "state feminism" in Egypt. The Egyptian state created state feminist policies that aimed to change women's roles within society in order to promote modernity through the image of the "New Woman" and co-opt women into the Nasserist regime. These policies included women's greater integration into the labor force, their increased presence in educational spaces and their right to vote. However, the films examined here confirm that even after these policies went into effect, women did not see drastic changes in their lives. They continued to face gender discrimination in the workforce, as seen in A Film For Men Only. They also discovered that deeply rooted Egyptian traditions that prevented women from working or receiving an education were sustaining these norms.