Introduction

The 2013 constitution, which amended the previous constitution issued under the Muslim Brotherhood's (MB) rule, begins by describing Egypt as ‘the gift of the Nile and the gift of Egyptians to humanity’. Egypt as ‘the Mother of the World’ is a common saying in Egypt. The fact that Egypt is represented as a female (mother) is no coincidence if consideration is given to the words referring to nation, land, territory and country all being in feminine (rather than masculine) forms in Arabic. Paradoxically, this gendered system of representation ends up alienating Egyptian women from participating in the political process, and hence, in the process of nation-building; consequently, nationalist discourse about Mother Egypt may bestow on women a symbolic power of being the source of reproducing the nation, while institutions behind this discourse may strip women of any actual political power (see Baron 2007). Mothers give life and protection to their sons, who in turn, should honour and defend them, when they are older and stronger. The sons here are the guardians of their mothers’ chastity and honour. This is perhaps why nationalist rhetoric depends on the concept of honour, or national honour, especially during times of conflict, which links women's honour to that of the nation (Baron 2007: 42). Such nationalist discourse is based on the love for the place, the land and the territory, and not necessarily on a creed or a set of values. Egypt here is the ‘mother’ figure whose place is exalted among all other (female) nations and constantly coveted by invaders. It is for that ‘mother’ that many Egyptian poets and singers have chanted their songs and recited their poems; they were used to agitate public opinion during the uprisings, beginning on 25 January 2011.