A Trade Like Any Other

Abstract

"A performer is like a candle; she sheds light for others but bwns herself up" (p. 10). This rather sad statement gives an accurate picture of the situation of women working in the entertainment trade in Cairo, such as van Nieuwkerk presents it. Caught in a dilemma between economic necessity and their significant others' evaluation of their work as shameful, female entertainers fight an uphill battle for respectability. They attempt to establish their trade as one like any other, but with no great success. To Western visitors to Egypt, belly dancing has been seen (and still is) as the quintessence of the sensual and exotic Orient. In order to de-exoticize the trade, van Nieuwkerk takes readers behind the glamorous tourist scene and introduces us to the life-worlds of female performers and their Egyptian audiences. She shows that although entertainment in general is seen as an integral part of big celebrations, female performers’ reputations suffer. And she asks: Is the tainted reputation of female entertainers due to the fact that entertainment is a dishonorable profession or is it due to the fact that the profession is dishonorable for women? (p. 3) ...