The Representation of Women in Egyptian Proverbs: A Feminist Critical Discourse Analysis

Central to cultural expression, social values, and mainstream ideologies, proverbs encapsulate the collective wisdom of their communities across different themes including gender. In patriarchal societies, the proverbial repertoire is instrumental in maintaining and legitimizing gender hierarchies and normalizing unequal power relations. This study examines the representation of women in Egyptian proverbs through the lens of Feminist Critical Discourse Analysis (FCDA), aiming to uncover how gendered ideologies are embedded in proverbial discourse and how language contributes to the maintenance of patriarchal norms. Data were collected from 100 Egyptian participants who identified the 25 most familiar proverbs describing women, which were then qualitatively analyzed using FCDA. The findings reveal that 80 % of the examined proverbs depict women negatively – as weak, dependent, or irrational – while the few positive portrayals remain confined to traditional familial roles that women play as wives, mothers and daughters. The patterns identified illustrate how proverbial discourse sustains gender inequality. The study concludes that Egyptian proverbs not only mirror but also perpetuate patriarchal ideologies. Finally, it recommends conducting comparative studies to explore gender representations across regional and generational contexts.