Women In the Arab Press, 1892-1925
In the nineteenth century, the Arab world experienced a cultural and literary awakening that revived Classical Arabic and laid the foundations of a modern intellectual renaissance. By the early twentieth century, new generations of writers reshaped journalism, drama, fiction, and poetry while advocating social reform. Women played a vital role as writers, educators, and activists, advancing women’s rights and national and social causes. Journals and periodicals preserved in the library capture this vibrant era and highlight women’s lasting impact on the region’s cultural and intellectual history.
Labibah Hashim (1882–1952) was a pioneering Lebanese journalist, novelist, and educator who advanced women’s rights and education across the Arab world. In 1906, she founded Fatat al-Sharq (“The Young Woman of the East”), a landmark women’s magazine that ran until 1939, promoting women’s equality, featuring inspiring female figures, and combining literature with social and reformist commentary.
Mary Ajami (1888–1965) was a trailblazing Syrian journalist, poet, educator, and nationalist from Damascus. Educated in Russia, Ireland, and the United States, she became one of the first women teachers in Damascus, teaching Arabic literature across the region. In 1910, she founded al-ʻArus (“The Bride”), Syria’s first and only women’s magazine at the time, promoting literature, social reform, health, domestic sciences, and women’s public engagement.
ʻAfifah Sa‘b (1900–1986) was a Lebanese journalist, educator, and advocate for women’s advancement, born in Shuwayfat. In 1919, she founded al-Khidr, a monthly literary and scientific magazine—often considered the first Druze women’s periodical—aimed at educating women, particularly in rural areas, on social, religious, health, and literary topics. Her lifelong efforts in promoting women’s empowerment were recognized with the Lebanese Order of Merit in 1958.