Egypt: Networking women journalists

It was clear by the end of the first day that most women attending the initial workshop had never talked openly about the gender barriers - lower wages than their male counterparts, for example, and sexual harassment at the workplace. Participants were also looking for ways to build their self-esteem.

Approximately 60 women journalists from all over Egypt discussed issues in a series of workshops held in Cairo. In role-plays they looked at the dynamics of editorial conferences and also analyzed journalistic reports. "I'd never seen such an intensive exchange like this," said DW Akademie trainer Sigrun Rottmann who conducted the workshops together with the journalist Kerstin Kilanowski.

I'm a journalist - and a daughter, mother and wife

Building self-confidence

Discussions quickly turned to personal issues - how to succeed as a journalist and at the same time balance traditional roles as daughters, mothers and wives. As daughters they're often told to avoid dangers and are discouraged from travelling alone; as mothers and wives they're expected to take care of the home and the family.

The women face discrimination at the workplace, at times even from their female colleagues. "There's a lack of solidarity among women at work," said one participant. This was a reason why Rottmann wanted to create a "safe space" where women could share experiences without risking career opportunities.

The main focus, however, was buildings the women's self-confidence. When one participant said that she enjoyed parachuting, Rottmann asked whether she would put that in her CV. "I'd never thought about it," the woman responded. Rottmann's goal is to help women journalists between the ages of 20 and 30 develop strategies to overcome their sense of powerlessness.

Limited to "women's topics"

No longer on the sidelines: women journalists in Egypt

Most women journalists are assigned to "women's topics" - children, cooking, beauty tips and fashion. But their requests to cover serious grievances such as child marriage or genital mutilation - both of which are still common in Upper Egypt - are usually rejected.

Jens-Uwe Rahe, DW Akademie's Country Coordinator for Egypt, says that women journalists are rarely found in senior positions and that there’s a lack of gender-specific topics "It's difficult for girls, mothers, working and older women to voice their concerns and stand up for their rights," he says. "They face social and economic discrimination, but because of that," he points out, "Egypt is also squandering potential for its own development."

The DW Akademie project "Women's Voices" focuses specifically on women journalists. Many work in the profession and young women also make up the majority of journalism students at university. However, women continue to be overlooked at the workplace.

"Women's Voices" – networking opportunities for women journalists

After the three workshops DW Akademie trained four journalists to become trainers themselves, as a way to draw further attention to the issues and challenges.

DW Akademie also held a Cairo conference at the end of November that brought together former participants as well as activists, and male and female journalists. "A number of them told me about successes they'd had in salary negotiations and in changing jobs," says Rottmann. But what pleased her the most, she says, is that the women had initiated a project to create the informal "Network for Egyptian Women Journalists".

Tilman Rascher is also pleased with the progress. "We're happy that we were able to hold this conference," says the head of DW Akademie's Middle East and North Africa Division. "There's currently little leeway for foreign organizations in Egypt," he says, "especially where the media is concerned."


The DW Akademie project "Women's Voices" is funded by Germany's Federal Foreign Office.