Eltahawy Mona

Public profile: Mona Eltahawy

Mona Eltahawy is an Egyptian‑American journalist, author and public speaker known for her advocacy on women’s rights, gender equality and social reform in the Arab world and beyond. She has reported on politics, culture and human rights across the Middle East, North Africa and the United States, and has built a reputation as a fearless commentator on feminism, censorship and political reform.

News and coverage

• Eltahawy’s reporting and essays have appeared in major outlets such as The Guardian, Foreign Policy, The Washington Post and The New York Times, among others.
• She has been a prominent voice during and after the Arab Spring, writing on gender-based violence, censorship, and social change in the region.
• Her work frequently centers on women’s rights, bodily autonomy, and the critique of religious and cultural norms as they intersect with public policy and everyday life.
• She has spoken at universities, literary festivals and international forums, contributing to public debates on feminism and human rights.

Publications and notable projects

• Headscarves and Hymens: Why the Middle East Needs a Sexual Revolution (2015) — a widely read book examining gender, religion and social change in the region.
• Ongoing journalism and opinion pieces addressing gender equality, harassment, political reform and freedom of expression.
• Public speaking engagements, panels and advocacy work aimed at advancing women’s rights and challenging norms that restrict women’s agency.

Social media and online presence

Eltahawy engages with global audiences through public platforms. A primary platform for her commentary is X (formerly Twitter) under the handle @monaeltahawy. She also maintains a presence on other major social platforms for journalism, commentary and speaking engagements.

Additional information

Beyond writing, Eltahawy participates in discussions on gender-based violence, human rights and reform in the Middle East. Her work emphasizes the importance of women’s voices in public life and the intersection of culture, religion and policy in shaping societal norms.