Coming of age, for many Egyptian women, is akin to a chronometer being set in the race that is finding a potential husband. Finding that potential husband comes with both a timeline and series of do’s and don’ts that are repeated to girls as they grow up with respect to how to attract the suitor. ‘Sit up straight,’ ‘Don’t laugh too loud,’ ‘Make sure your blouse is not too revealing, your skirt not too short,’ and the list goes on. What makes a woman ‘wife material’ extends to not wearing too much make-up but just enough, not straightening her hair too much but just enough, and to certain social etiquettes which all keep her at just enough. However, the generation of Middle Eastern women growing up in the 21st century have gradually begun to move away from the notion that marriage is the be-all and end-all to having a successful life. With women gaining independence and financial autonomy, many have started shifting their outlook on marriage with some pushing it to later in life. Certain terms and stereotypes have, nevertheless, remained entrenched in Egyptian society where women are concerned, despite…
