The sample

The sample included 200 individuals chosen from four governorates (Cairo, Sharqia, Minya and Qena), using a predetermined restricted sample method. The sample included the following: eighty individuals from Cairo (40 per cent of the total number of the sample), forty from Sharqia (20 per cent); forty from Minya (20 per cent) and forty from Qena (20 per cent).

Table 1.1 sets out the rural/urban variables, with 70 per cent of the sample from urban areas and 30 per cent from rural areas. All the participants from Cairo were from urban areas, owing to the lack of rural areas in the capital; in the other governorates the sample came in equal numbers from urban and rural areas. Table 1.2 shows the distribution of the sample according to gender. The inclusion of 60 per cent females compared to 40 per cent males in the sample was a deliberate choice, primarily because of the aim of exploring the position of Egyptian women towards the law. Table 1.3 shows respondents according to their educational level, with 57.7 per cent of the sample illiterate, 20 per cent having completed primary education, 14 per cent having completed secondary education, and only 8.5 per cent having completed higher education. Table 1.4 shows that 46 per cent of the total number of the sample are married, 19.5 per cent single but engaged and soon to be married, 18.5 per cent single, 11 per cent divorced and 5 per cent widowed. It is also worth noting here that more than 65 per cent of married women in the sample had not chosen their husbands, and the majority had married before they reached twenty years of age. Early marriage was one of the major reasons behind them having left school: 50 per cent were uneducated, 19 per cent had not completed their primary education, and 23.2 per cent had left school for marriage.

Table 1.1 Distribution of sample according to geographical location

Governorates Total Cairo Sharqia Minya Qena

Variables	N	%	N	%	N	%	N	%	N	%
Rural	60	30	—	—	20	5⁰	20	50	20	5°
Urban	140	70	80	IOO	20	5⁰	20	50	20	5°
Total	200	IOO	80	IOO	40	IOO	40	IOO	40	IOO

Table 1.2 Distribution of sample according to sex

Governorates Variables	Total		Cairo		Sharqia		Minya		Qena
Governorates Variables	N	%	N	%	N	%	N	%	N	%
Male	80	40	3^o	37-5	18	45	15	37∙5	17	42∙5
Female	120	60	5⁰	63∙5	22	55	25	⁶3∙5	23	57∙5
Total	200	IOO	80	IOO	4⁰	IOO	40	IOO	40	IOO

Table 1.3 Distribution of sample according to standard of education

Education level	Total		Cairo		Sharqia		Minya		Qena
Education level	N	%	N	%	N	%	N	%	N	%
Primary	4°	20	14	¹7∙5	7	¹7∙5	9	22.5	IO	25
Secondary	28	14	9	і i.25	7	ⁱ7∙5	5	12.5	7	¹7∙5
Higher	17	8-5	9	11.25	3	7∙5	3	7∙5	2	5
Illiterate	¹¹5	57∙5	48	60	23	57∙5	23	57∙5	21	52∙5
Total	200	IOO	80	IOO	40	IOO	40	IOO	40	IOO

TaDle 1.4 Distribution of individuals according to marital status

Marital status Total Cairo Sharqia Minya Qena

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	N	%	N	%	N	%	N	%	N	%
Married	92	46	28	35	22	22	55	20	50
Engaged single	39	¹9∙5	IO	12.5	9	22.5	9	22.5	II	27∙5
Unengaged single	37	18.5	26	32∙5	3	7∙5	4	IO	4	IO
Divorced	22	II	12	15	5	12.5	2	5	3	7∙5
Widowed	IO	5	4	5	I	2∙5	3	7∙5	2	5
Total	200	IOO	80	IOO	40	IOO	40	IOO	40	IOO

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Source: Welchman Lynn. Women's Rights and Islamic Family Law: Perspectives on Reform. Zed Books,2004. — 328 p.. 2004

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The sample

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