On TikTok, a young Egyptian woman, Hend Sayshi, spoke about living between two versions of herself, the one shaped by family expectations and the one she discovered through independence. She explained that while she often defaults to the version molded by family dynamics and collective priorities, living and traveling alone allowed her to meet another side of herself, one defined by choice rather than obligation. Her reflection resonated with hundreds of Arab women who shared similar experiences, revealing a broader reality in Arab societies, where individuality is often intertwined with the expectations of family and community. Scholars have long pointed to this divide between collectivist and individualist cultures. A 2003 study in the journal Intercultural Education found that Egypt scored significantly higher on collectivism compared to Germany, where self-expression and independence are more central to the culture. In collectivist contexts, people are encouraged to see themselves as part of a group, and developing a sense of identity often means balancing personal desire with family duty and social expectations. This tension between self and society has long been reflected in Egyptian literature. In her 1977 book The Hidden Face of Eve,…
