As a family travelling to Egypt, should any of our female relatives be careful? be more aware of social customs? allow the male relatives to converse with Egyptian males?

of course we are aware of certain styles of clothing not to wear, and have researched female traveller's reviews and comments, but these have been for single females. would the social customs be different for: expectant mothers, mothers, wives and sisters? travelling with family, partners and small children?

Hii,
Actually Egyptians form a society of a mixture of Middle Eastern family standards, taken from the different religious rules, whether in Islam or Christianity, it creates a sort of background that can colour their decision-making in a way difficult for foreigners to understand, yet it is precisely this training that makes Egyptians some of the most charming and helpful of hosts. By understanding the culture and with consideration for your hosts, you can be a welcome guest in Egypt.
To be aware of certain styles of clothing is a good thing but let me tell you that it is advisable to dress conservatively when visiting churches and mosques. For men not to wear shorts and as for woman better not to wear any thing short or sleeveless unless on the beach or by the pool. This will save them unwanted attention. If you are traveling in the summer loose, light cotton clothing is absolutely essential.
Please let me know if you need any more info, I wish you a wonderful trip to Egypt

it depends on what places you will move to

Gattours said it all pretty well. I don't think you will find things too odd here. Dress and behave respectfully, and there should be no issues.

I guess something that might be helpful, although as tourists I doubt it will be a situation you will experience is if as a husband and wife you are introduced to an Egyptian husband and wife - YOU as the foreign wife might want to take you clue from the Egyptian wife as to how much handshaking, hugging, or any touching you should do with her husband from how she behaves with your husband. There likely will be NO touching at all, and you would look possibly forward if you threw your hand out to be shook, and certainly worse if you were to hug him.
Egyptians that are not married here don't do a LOT of touching in public, so we, as foreign women can appear to be pretty sleezy with all our hugging and kissing (cheek kissing even) of men that are near strangers to us - they are certainly not our husbands or brothers.... if you get my drift.

thank you gattours and casual cairo, that helps us prepare for the cultural differences. the example that has been posted by casual cairo is what we were looking at. unsure of 'mixed' introductions, or a foreign couple being introduced to single Egyptain male (ie: guide etc) as well as any casual (cafe/restaurant/shop owner/guide) introduction (as a couple) with Egyptain Females. welcome all other hints and tips thanks

I was surprised to see a woman in Egypt with her hands covered in long gloves and her face fully covered walking along with her husband I assume, or a male family member and she had her arm in the crook of his. I commented to our Egyptian male guide and he said things are changing here.

MissGreen - 100% the woman was married to the man she was walking with - unless something very weird was going on - but that is less likely. If she is that conservative, you might have noticed her husband being dressed fairly conservatively too - ie: a beard, maybe a mark on his forehead (a calous from praying), maybe shorter pants than normal (this is REALLY conservative dress), and things like that. She is by all means allowed to touch her husband like that even if she is completely covered... but you can bet she didn't until they were married.

surprisealot - beware of the introductions to the single (without a woman with him - married or not) Egyptian male guide. They are all too frequently a little too friendly with their female customers as they know the average Western woman will not object. Do not hug your guide, or let him lay his hands on you too much. Tell your husband to object if he does this. It will probably surprise him, but he will respect you and your husband more, if you actually do it. Then watch how he behaves around the single women without a husband to object.
They don't all do it, but all too often they do, and then when you object or say your husband asks him where his sister or wife is, so he can handle her like that, and watch his reaction.
Double standards! Grrrrr!

thank you Casual_Cairo for the tips, we appreciate the cultural differences and social changes, but were hesitant on how to react in a situation like you have described. I will 'use' my husband as a 'go between' in discussions and interactions with (males in general) guides etc.

any other insights would be appreciated.

Casual Cairo... you say she is allowed to touch her husband... yet many guide books should get up to date if that is the case. They really go to town on the 'no touching' between you and your opposite sex travelling mate when in Egypt.

If you're interacting with male tour guides ours were well versed in dealing with females and deferred to my Husband. In shops, I don't recall deferrence to the males I was with. I often had to bring my guide in to the store to translate but the staff interacted with me easily.

Our male tour guide didn't defer to my husband at all. The times they are a-changing?

Several people (an Egyptian woman whose parents still live in Cairo, the son of the guide whom my friend has dealt with for a decade, and an American teacher I know who lives in Cairo) have told me that since January, everyone (including Egyptians ) is having to be a little more careful. Women are less likely wear their gold jewelry out at night, more likely to stay in groups, and so on. But all say that as long as they follow more precautions, it's still a good place to be.

When I go I always wear long loose tops and skirts, and a scarf for in mosques of course. I don't remember seeing any Egyptian couples touching, married or not.

Another good thing to know is whenever you compliment something, especially a baby or child, to say "Mash'Allah" (with God's help) so they feel at ease and do not have fear of the evil eye.

Thanks for the comments, local customs and phrases are a great hint... mash'allah is pronounced how it's spelt? (note to self - buy arabic phrase book tape - mind you didn't see this helpful phrase on the fodor's versions).

Reading trip notes and having drinks with friends who have just returned.. yes things have changed since the revolution, that was expected, I suppose, but alway aware when travelling - but good to know - don't have any jewellery anyway so safer already lol!!

speaking about recent travellers, our friends were travellnig in a larger family group ie grandparents parents and grandchildren. she mentioned that the male guide did first turn to her husband, then again she was more occupied with the grandkids at the time. more safer out of Cairo was the suggestion...any thoughts???