When thinking about feminism, our thoughts often gravitate toward the women-led movement through a Western lens. Within our Arab sphere, feminism has frequently been framed as a reflection of European influence in the region. But contrary to this old-fashioned perception, the movement has its grassroots origins deeply embedded in unique historical, social, and political contexts within Arab cultures. This is particularly evidenced by the feminist ideology that emerged during the 19th and 20th centuries, known as Al Nahda or the Arab Renaissance.
At the forefront of this movement is Mary Ajami, the pioneering feminist thinker behind one of the earliest Arab feminist magazines, originating from Damascus, Al-Arous Magazine. To set the stage, the early 20th century witnessed a transformative period in the Arab world as European colonial states partitioned territories of the Ottoman Empire. Against this backdrop, Ajami emerged as a trailblazer in the early 20th century feminist landscape, shaping Syria’s modern history.
A nurse, journalist, and political activist born into a middle-class family in the Old City of Damascus, Ajami adopted secular and pan-Syrian sentiments during her formative years. Her feminist ideology intertwined with the struggle against both Ottoman and French colonizers, rooted in progressive and reformist aspirations for the nation. Advocating for women’s emancipation and social justice for minority groups, Ajami played a pivotal role in sparking a feminist awakening among Syrian women.
In 1910, she founded Al-Arous, recognized as the world’s first feminist Arab magazine. The publication, headquartered in Damascus and edited by Ajami and a small team of female journalists, delved into women’s issues across political, cultural, literary, fictional, and medical spheres. In the inaugural edition, Ajami explained the choice of the magazine’s name, stating, “Our Bride is a bride dedicated to the service of her society, for those who believe in the power of women.”
Today, we have plenty of options when it comes to magazines at the foreground of Arab women’s issues— Azeema and Al Hayya immediately come to mind. But in the 1900s, publications that specifically addressed women’s concerns were deemed radical. In her first-ever editor’s letter for the debut issue, Ajami wrote, “Women have been granted the honor of adorning the earth with the flowers of heaven.” Addressing her female readers, she added, “You are the bride. Welcome her without being commanded to do so, such that she may be freed of her shame, that she may reveal the secrets of her heart, of her soul and the ceremonies of her standing. She is a bride with no husband but the people who walk with freedom, seeking the blessing of patriotism beneath their flag’s sky. Her marriage contract is penned with the ink of both reason and heart, crowning heads with blossoms of hope and love.”
Despite growing from 32 to 40 pages, Al-Arous faced closure in 1914 due to World War I. Post-war, the magazine resumed in 1918, expanding to 60 pages, featuring contributions from prominent literary figures like Lebanese poets Khalil Gibran and Mikhail Naimy. Unfortunately, it ceased publication in 1925 during the Great Syrian Revolt.
Beyond the magazine, Ajami established the Damascene (Shami’s) Women’s Club in 1920 alongside Syrian activist Naziq al-Abid, which evolved into an intellectual hub for feminist discourse and political activism. The club aimed to challenge social restrictions on women, particularly from the upper and middle class, engaging them in the broader struggle against oppressors, whether Ottomans, French, or men at large. Ajami, undeterred by the French authorities’ suppression of Al-Arous, distributed covert pamphlets in Damascus.
Her unwavering nationalist struggle intensified after the French occupation, as she sought to infuse feminist perspectives into the national discourse, empowering women and advocating for socio-political reforms in the state and society. In one such passionate pamphlet, the feminist icon asserted, “Who said that our nation does not deserve to be independent?”
Photo: Converging Territories by Lalla Essaydi
