Egypt vs. America Compare & Contrast

Egyptians and Americans have many similarities yet at the same time different perspectives on culture, family and architecture. Considering that Egyptian civilization has been around for thousands of years and American Civilization has been around for only centuries, it is amazing how media and individuals will perceive Egypt as a third world country yet admire it for its history. Egypt is a historical country and continues to follow through its culture. Many people mistake the culture for the religion, when both are two completely different things.

Call Egypt “old fashioned”, but that is their way of life. Women are expected to be more conservative; not to have too much skin exposed. Egypt is not just a Muslim country, but also Coptic as well. Today many Coptic women cover their hair. Is it part of the religion? No, some may wear it simply for fashion, where other times it depends on the area in which they live. For example: the market “El Suit”, mosque “Gamaii”, church “Kanessa”, the projects “Ain Shams” , these are some of the main places that play a big input on deciding what to wear, and what not to wear.

Also Egypt does have the tourist spots, the suburbs, the upper class, and modern areas, women can dress a tiny bit more freely in comfort, without the constant stares. In the United States, many women wear shorts, sleeveless blouses, and it is not an issue; something one sees every day. Whereas in Egypt, to see a women dressed in shorts, a sleeveless blouse, outside her home, and in the street? Unheard of, the town people would simply be in utter shock, and look intently, as if they have never seen skin before.

For them that is not something one would normally see because people have followed and adapted to a particular lifestyle for centuries and it works for them. So to see something that one does not normally see every day, or EVER, will cause attention and commotion.

Conversely, in the United States, people have rights and the freedom to wear what they want and not feel out of place. Finally, after centuries, Egypt is trying to prevail some freedom, and independence; The Egyptian Revolution. The Next biggest thing to religion in Egypt is family. Out there family is a big deal and has a say in EVERYTHING. When a problem arises within the family, or any given situation, EVERYBODY, from grandma, grandpa, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and so on all get involved. It could be either a good thing or a complete disaster. Every person in the family makes it their job to know everyone else’s business, what is going on, all the gossip, who will marry whom, and basically sit there and plan out everyone else’s life for them. Fridays in Egypt are like Sundays in America, except in America most people go to church and brunch as a family, where as in Egypt the whole day is spent with the immediate family, extended family, and future family.

If anyone wants to marry or divorce, they must get the approval from the family, and if one goes against the families say, without the blessing, it brings great shame to the family and dishonor to the individual. Since Egyptians are so family oriented, the people are friendlier and personable with one another because in some strange way someone always seems to be a cousin or tied into the family. In the United Sates family is important, but not to the extent of getting the “approval” for every minor thing, or everyone knowing each other’s business, or planning the entire day around family unless discussed. Both also share a similarity with the relationship of the mother and her young, and how they look to her; top of the list. Family is important no matter where one may be, but some distance should be kept for each person needs to pursue his/her own life at one point. The architecture in Egypt is incredible; still standing strong after thousands of years.

That must be why they called it Ancient Egypt, still standing after thousands of years, surviving drastic changes in weather, earthquakes, and all of nature’s courses. Ancient Egyptian monuments like Pyramids were made as tombs for late Pharaohs, Obelisks were made to commemorate the victories over enemies and great Pharaohs, ancient temples were for showing the way of daily life of the ancient Egyptians, also victories in wars and memories of great kings and queens. In the United States of America she has monuments built to honor dead leaders such as Washington monument, the Lincoln memorial, and now Martin Luther King Jr. monument. They both consist of similar ideas of architecture, but how can one compare between what was built 5000 years ago by paid Egyptian labor vs. 200 years old “monuments”.

Even though America is much younger and more modernized than Egypt, do not write them off as being a backwards country. No matter which way either one is dissected and broken down, both share common similarities yet, in a diverse way. Just because something has been kept one way for years, does not necessarily mean it is doomed for failure, due to people seeing it as out of date and not modern enough. Egyptians were the first with many accomplishments, the pyramids for example; it has this long and still that one wonder stands. Americans may be more up to date in perspective, but let us not forget who invented medicine, beer, surgery, make up, and a great many other things.