Every year as summer rolls around, and people attempt to escape the blistering heat in the refuge of a hotel pool or private beach, like clockwork, a flurry of angry posts take over Egyptian feeds to determine whether or not “burkinis” are appropriate swimwear. Burkinis, modest swimsuits worn mostly by hijabi women, are unwarrantedly banned by many hotels and resorts with the justification of them not being “suitable” for swimming. However, as made clear by annual Facebook debates, the burkini ban is nothing but one of the many examples of casual classism prevalent in our society.
Classism is “differential treatment based on social class or perceived social class.” Essentially, classism systemically puts people of lower social classes at a disadvantage simply due to their economic status. At its worst, it manifests in lack of access to proper healthcare and education, judicial discrimination, and an overall lower standard of living. Yet, most of us are unknowing perpetrators of classism in our everyday lives.
One of the most prominent examples is the justifications people start spouting when someone defends hijabis’ right to wear the style of swimsuit they prefer. Some claim that these hotels and resorts have a reputation to keep and a certain “standard” to hold their guests and residents to. This excuse does not only wrongfully claim that all hijabis belong to lower social classes, but it also justifies the gatekeeping that allows only the richest, least “traditionally” Egyptian people to be seen as “classy” as opposed to “vulgar.” Coming from a country whose people use religion as a scapegoat at every given chance, the burkini ban proves that people will abandon religion to maintain their classist, misogynistic views while cherry picking the verses that allow them to continue controlling women. After all, this stems from the misogynistic, patriarchal desire to strip women of their autonomy and prevent them from making their own choices. Tell women they’re going to hell if they don’t cover up, but ban them from doing so in certain institutions. Tell women to wear more revealing swimsuits, but blame their clothes when they get assaulted.
Another great example of classism is people’s aversion to Egyptian or Arabic content. Many people claim to not enjoy Egyptian TV shows, movies, music, art, etc. despite consuming the trashiest content just because it’s Western. Some of these people aren’t even aware of the implications of their choices. To be seen as “cool” and again, “classy,” you always have to be caught up with the latest American shows and listen to the most popular Western rappers. God forbid you listen to Egyptian radio, or even worse: Mahraganat! A lot of art and content loses its value only because it’s written or performed in Arabic. Perhaps, this stems from a desire to like something that isn’t accessible to the majority of the population; you seem more “cultured” if you only listen to English music or watch French movies. You’re special. You don’t even understand Arabic that well because you’re so immersed in Western culture and so ashamed of your own. You don’t want to associate with someone “poor” in any way, as if it’s contagious. You listen to one Hamo Bika song and BAM! your car is now a toktok, your sushi is now koshary, and your bros are all yastas. People are so disgusted by anyone who is less privileged than they are to the extent where they shun their own culture to avoid being grouped with them.
This is why we see a lot of Egyptian youth gravitate towards pursuing their passions in English and other languages, instead of finding the content they like by artists who share their same culture, heritage, and struggles. It’s as if only those who are privileged enough to have learned a second language are “worthy” of being heard or gaining attention.
Moreover, deeming someone or something as “bee2a,” a classist term used to describe anything remotely related to lower social classes, is yet another example. If you aren’t rich enough to afford branded clothing, you’re “bee2a.” If you talk in an accent that even slightly implies you weren’t born and raised in Cairo, you’re “bee2a.” If your English doesn’t resemble that of an American actor, you’re “bee2a”-- as if an attempt to learn a second language shouldn’t be celebrated no matter how “perfect” it may or may not be. Anything that affiliates you with normal middle-class Egyptians makes you “bee2a.” You are judged and punished for not affording an iPhone that costs 17 thousand pounds -- an amount many Egyptians don’t make in an entire year. It’s gone so far that some people on Twitter invalidate others’ arguments if they’re tweeting from an Android, and some jobs don’t hire people simply because their accents aren't up to par. Classism has blinded people’s ability to separate intelligence and validity from delivery.
This sense of superiority whose only basis is a monetary value and the privilege that comes with it is so abhorrent and disgusting. However, one way to start dismantling this system is to check our own privilege and make sure we aren’t contributing to the problem, both directly or indirectly. The first step is to examine our actions: Are we hurting anyone with the preferences we have or the language we use on a day to day basis? Do our preferences come from a place of genuine enjoyment or simply a desire to be perceived in a certain way or associated with a certain social class? Do we judge people based on their clothes, cars, material belongings, or accents or do we see them for who they truly are? It’s fine to admit that you have classist beliefs or contribute to classism as long as you now see it as a flawed way of thinking that needs to be corrected. After examining our actions, we need to adopt better attitudes towards anything we previously wrote off for classist reasons. Find Egyptian content that you like, support Egyptian brands, make friends from different social classes, acknowledge the struggles you don’t face because of your privilege and attempt to diminish them, slowly unlearn the shame you’ve attached to your culture. And, finally, call out classism whenever you see it. If you know that someone is losing a job opportunity because of their accent or the way they dress, point out how discriminatory that is. If you hear your friend making fun of where someone lives or how they can’t afford the latest gadget, tell them that isn’t acceptable. If you see someone dismiss a valid point or concern simply because it was raised by someone of a lower social class, make sure they are heard, or at least echo their point and give them credit.
If we slowly but surely make it clear that these behaviors are unacceptable, and reject the idea that you’re less worthy because of your socioeconomic status or the amount of money you make, institutions and systems are sure to catch up. But, this has to start with you!
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