The Egyptian People 73mother’s role as they age. Mothers remain an important
figure in their sons’ lives at all ages.
Traditionally, the Egyptian standard was to live in
the extended family setting usually comprised of three
generations within the same household. This is still the
preferred living arrangement among most Egyptians,
but as crowding forces more people to migrate to urban
areas to work, family living arrangements have dispersed
somewhat. Unless they must migrate for work or education,
most unmarried children remain in the family home until
they get married. Very rarely do single women move away
from their family residence unless it is to another family
member’s home.
Traditional family size is rather large in Egypt by Western
standards. Preferred family size seems to be decreasing
somewhat. Many people I meet say that they would prefer
to have only two or three children rather than eight, nine
or more, which was customary in the previous generations.
Recent efforts by government sponsors to provide family
planning to Egyptians has been met with mixed success.
Some people judged limiting family size to be against
their religion. Since the highest Islamic authority in the
country has announced that it is not against Islam, more
people are moving to control family size through various
contraceptive means.
Complementary Roles for Men and Women
Most Egyptians I have talked to view men’s and women’s
roles as complementary. Each person in the household has
rights and responsibilities based on age and gender. Egyptian
women are traditionally responsible for the household,
whereas men are responsible for working and providing
money for the family. Increasing urbanisation with its shift
from an agrarian lifestyle throughout Egypt challenges
traditional ways of life. Women among the lower classes
increasingly find it necessary to work in the labour market
or in small entrepreneurial enterprises. This is frequently
insulting to the family male and often results in increased
family friction and violence. It is also degrading to many