100 CultureShock! Egypt
trying to educate the population about the hazards attached
to FGM. The curriculum at medical schools and for trained
birth attendants is being revised to address FGM and its
dangers. Finally, the senior Muslim leader in Egypt, the
Sheik of Al-Azhar, has stated that FGM is not required under
Islamic tenets.
FGM is an intensely ingrained cultural practice that
carries with it numerous symbolic traditional reasons for
continuing the practice. Many women believe the practice is
necessary to ensure that their young daughters will be able
to get a good husband and that the practice is a ‘normal’
thing girls must go through as part of growing up. Therefore,
in spite of government, religious and private efforts to
eradicate FGM, it is unlikely to completely disappear in
the near future.Names
Some of the most common names used throughout Egypt
give clues on how to fit people into the social structure. You
can usually assume that a person with a name common in
Islamic history, e.g. Mohamed, is Muslim. People with Western
names are more likely Christian. Names that appear in both
the Qur’an and Bible do not mark a person’s religion.
In fact, Mohamed is probably the most common name
you will hear throughout Egypt. It is so frequently used that
the name is used in conjunction with the next following
name or sometimes a person will simply go by their second
name to avoid confusion with others named ‘Mohamed’.
The use of titles is an important aspect of Egyptian
society. The way people are addressed in Egypt is by
Mr, Mrs, Madame, Dr or Professor followed by their first
name. For example, a person named Mohamed would be
addressed as Mr Mohamed or Dr Mohamed as the situation
warrants. As a woman, I am sometimes called Mrs Susan,
Dr Susan, Madame Susan or Professor Susan depending on
the situation and how people know me. Ministerial and high
ranking diplomatic officials are referred to as ‘Excellency’.
Definitely try to find out any title a person has because to
omit their title can be insulting. If you have to err, try to err