Mal Infertility In Egypt

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“Umm il ghayyib” translated as ‘Mother of the Missing One’ is a term most Egyptians are familiar with by early adulthood. In a community where women are commonly referred to as ‘mother of her eldest child’ it is not surprising that reproduction is both a highly valued and socially expected aspect of society. These practices illuminate the social pressures placed predominantly on women to both conceive and rear children. Thus the female identity in Egyptian is partially defined by the quality of offspring one produces. Yet for others who do not reproduce, they are defined almost entirely by their infertility. Many anthropological studies on Egypt attribute the primary cause of infertility to the ceremonious practice of female genital mutilation. However, as a tradition secluded mostly to rural regions of the country many speculate the reasons for high infertility rates in Egypt’s largest cities such as Cairo, Alexandria, and Port Said. Recent studies have shown that nearly half of all infertility reports are due to male deficiencies. In this paper I will draw upon Marcia Inhorn’s contribution to ethnomedical approaches to health to analyze ways in which male infertility has become a female burden, as well as its effects on notions of masculinity and martial relations within Egypt. While Egypt is not distinguishable as an overtly patriarchal society, many aspects of patriarchy are embedded in its political and cultural foundation. Patriarchal ideologies are present in religious, legal, and economic mandates. Additionally the authority of males is cemented through familial gender roles, in which the oldest male is often the most powerful figure in the family. In less urbanized regions of the country patriarchy extends beyond the immediate family, in such cases the eldest man dominates control. Thus, the results of infertilely become a concern for the extended family
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