Twenty-year-old blogger Aliaa Magda Elmahdy posted nude photos of herself to protest the limits of free expression in Egypt. These naked pictures of the activist sparked outrage throughout the region.
In Egypt, nudity is not okay even as art, which is why the Aliaa Magda Elmahdy nude photos were so shocking to everybody. Most women wear a headscarf in public, and the others usually do not show their arms or legs in public, which is a stark contrast to many Western societies.
The young blogger posted the naked pictures where she was wearing only her stockings, saying it "screams against a society of violence, racism, sexism, sexual harassment, and hypocrisy."
Ahmed Awadallah tweeted support of Aliaa Magda Almahdy writing, "I'm totally taken back by her bravery." She has many supporters and many detractors after her unusual post.
The incredibly difficult thing to imagine is the type of discrimination women face in Egypt. It is hard to understand the way women are covered up there. Good for this brave, young blogger for trying to upset the status quo. Do you think she will help things change for the better for women in Egypt? She certainly drew plenty of attention to the issue by posing naked.
Like this article? See more by Kate James at Gather.com
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Comments: 4
Unfortunately in the Muslim culture there the message will probably not get through. It will be misinterpreted as sexual perversion, blasphemy, whatever.
There is no indication that this young woman was looking to sexually excite anyone, or make any money. It was very un-Kardashian, what she did.
Just worth mentioning, there are places in Cairo that this young woman does not want to be recognized today. Her life would be in serious danger.