Egyptians like to make small talk when they meet someone. When they meet each other, they acknowledge everyone who is present. They ask questions about the health and family of their companions. Egyptians avoid talking about politics and religion until they know the other person well. Egyptians also really like to laugh and share jokes. People of the same gender stand close together when talking, and they may hold hands or kiss each other on the cheek. This is true for both men and women. Eye contact is more acceptable for men. If a woman wears a veil, it is impolite to shake her hand unless she offers it first. People of the opposite sex don’t show public displays of affection in public.
Like many cultures around the world, Egyptians have a high level of respect for their elders. We have to do whatever our elders ask of us. We can't talk back to them or they will say something to our parents. We have a responsibility to care of the older people in our families.
Education is very important for both men and women. Highly educated men and women are treated with a lot of respect. Although historically Egyptian women have not been treated equally, recent laws have given them more rights. For example, Egyptian women may now initiate a divorce, which is becoming increasingly common. Women make up 24% of the workforce, but like their counterparts in many areas of the world they don’t receive equal pay. In more rural areas, women tend to have more restrictions placed on them. This is due to culture, not religion. The amount of freedom that an Egyptian woman has depends on her social class. It also depends on her geographic location and her individual family. Egyptians value their children very highly, but in general, boys have more freedom when it comes to curfews and dating. However, in our families, boys and girls are treated equally.
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Age structure:
0-14 years: 32.2%
15-64 years: 63.2%