To what extent does the character of firdaus represent the growth of power and freedom in Egyptian society during the time the woman at point zero was written?

In the novella, woman at point zero, the character of firdaus and the growth of power within Egypt are interchangeable factors. At the beginning of the book, firdaus is a young girl. She lives at home with her mother and father. Her father used to beat her mother and her, which automatically shows us that not just firdaus, but women in general had no power. During this time, egypt would've been under the control of the british. So at the same time, egypt had none, or very little, power itself. This Is quite shocking to me, as british society has, and always had, power and independence.
Firduas later speaks of how she went to live with her uncle. She was very close with her uncle although he acted in an appropriate manor towards her at times. 'I loved school', he let her attend school, which at the time would have been a privilege. At this time in egypt, britain had given back independence to the country. Finally, after a history full of being ruled by others, egypt had a sense of power and freedom; Just as firduas as she goes to school. To me, going to school is something which is taken for granted in british society, and at the time education was compulsory, and still is to this day.
Firdaus soon finds herself married to 'a sheikh and a man of religion'. Sheik