Young Egyptians’ Quest for Jobs and Justice

Online Presentation of Gendered Selves among Young Women in Egypt

“…This generation has been described in literature 'as peril and promise' (el-Shakry 2011). On the one hand, the young generation has been represented as a technologically savvy, revolutionary generation (Herrera 2010;Swedenburg 2007). On the other hand, it has been viewed as a potential source of conflict, unrest and radicalism (see Bayat and Herrera 2010).…”

“…The young generation grew up in a largely authoritarian state, under President Mubarak's firm rule.8 Under his rule, Egypt's transition into the digital age happened gradually. In 1990, an Egyptian family had to wait between one and eight years to get a government-controlled landline (Herrera 2010). Mobinil and Vodafone entered the Egyptian market at the end of the 1990s.…”

“…Mobinil and Vodafone entered the Egyptian market at the end of the 1990s. At the same time, the first mass-market satellite dish arrived on the market (Herrera 2014). At that time a mobile phone was still considered a luxury item.…”

“…literature on the digital media in Egypt focuses on online activism and the Arab spring (see e.g., Armbrust 2011;el Ghobashy 2011;Herrera 2014).…”

“…Linda Herrera (2014), on the other hand, shows how the Internet, especially in the form of online gaming and chatting, has played a vital part in the opening of cultural frontiers by bringing Egyptian youth together with foreigners. Through the Internet, young women in particular are able to escape much of the social control that exists in the physical world.…”