Nabawiyya Musa
Encyclopedia
Nabawiyya Musa is recognized as one of the founding feminists
of the 20th century in Egypt. She is often partnered with Huda Sharawi and Malak Hifni Nasif as all three of these women gave lectures and put on other events to further education
, health and reduce sexual exploitation among other things for women.1 She grew up in Alexandria
and was part of the middle-class
. Along with being an avid educator she wrote and published articles such as “al-Ayat al –badyyina fi tarbiya al-banat" (a treatise on girls’ education) in 1902, "al-Mar’a wa-l-‘amal" (Woman and Work) in 1920 as well as editing a woman’s page for al-Balagh al-usbui (The Weekly News).2
because of their fear of women becoming too powerful in a society led by men. She finished her degree in education and went on to be a prominent educator for the middle-class and an advocate for women’s rights
. It was not until after 1922 that more women were let into the newly established Egyptian University and by this time Nabawiyya Musa was a key lecturer and leader among her colleagues.3
was actually a good model of how women can be an asset to work and equal opportunities
with men. She also believed that the differences between men and women were nothing but a social construct and could easily be broken with time. Through giving women and education she sought to end sexual violence
against women. She believed that by giving women an equal status in the workforce and in education would make them less vulnerable and less prone to sexual violence.4
in Egypt. She stood out because many of her views echoed nationalism
as well as equal opportunities for women. Along with highlighting the education of women, she was also a leading role model
in breaking down the social constructs of women. She and her partners in the feminist movement believed that a radical call for unveiling of women was not needed in the beginning of the movement because Egypt was not ready to accept it. However, after attending a conference in Rome in 1923, she along with Huda Shawari and Ceza Nabarawi came back to Egypt unveiled as a proclamation to Egyptian society.5
Feminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
of the 20th century in Egypt. She is often partnered with Huda Sharawi and Malak Hifni Nasif as all three of these women gave lectures and put on other events to further education
Further education
Further education is a term mainly used in connection with education in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is post-compulsory education , that is distinct from the education offered in universities...
, health and reduce sexual exploitation among other things for women.1 She grew up in Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
and was part of the middle-class
Middle class
The middle class is any class of people in the middle of a societal hierarchy. In Weberian socio-economic terms, the middle class is the broad group of people in contemporary society who fall socio-economically between the working class and upper class....
. Along with being an avid educator she wrote and published articles such as “al-Ayat al –badyyina fi tarbiya al-banat" (a treatise on girls’ education) in 1902, "al-Mar’a wa-l-‘amal" (Woman and Work) in 1920 as well as editing a woman’s page for al-Balagh al-usbui (The Weekly News).2
Education
Nabawiyya Musa was one of the first and last women to complete the education exam and be accepted into the Saniyya School under colonial ruleColonialism
Colonialism is the establishment, maintenance, acquisition and expansion of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. It is a process whereby the metropole claims sovereignty over the colony and the social structure, government, and economics of the colony are changed by...
because of their fear of women becoming too powerful in a society led by men. She finished her degree in education and went on to be a prominent educator for the middle-class and an advocate for women’s rights
Feminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
. It was not until after 1922 that more women were let into the newly established Egyptian University and by this time Nabawiyya Musa was a key lecturer and leader among her colleagues.3
Career
Nabawiyya Musa was an avid writer and educator who gave lectures around Egypt advocating for the education of women. She believed strongly that educated women would only improve the state by being able to be independent, bring in money for the household as middle-class women and/or raise their children to be independent so they could grow up to be assets to society. She believed strongly that the lack of hierarchy in the peasant and lower classesSocial class
Social classes are economic or cultural arrangements of groups in society. Class is an essential object of analysis for sociologists, political scientists, economists, anthropologists and social historians. In the social sciences, social class is often discussed in terms of 'social stratification'...
was actually a good model of how women can be an asset to work and equal opportunities
Equal opportunity
Equal opportunity, or equality of opportunity, is a controversial political concept; and an important informal decision-making standard without a precise definition involving fair choices within the public sphere...
with men. She also believed that the differences between men and women were nothing but a social construct and could easily be broken with time. Through giving women and education she sought to end sexual violence
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
against women. She believed that by giving women an equal status in the workforce and in education would make them less vulnerable and less prone to sexual violence.4
The Feminist Movement
Nabawiyya Musa was an integral part in the feminist movementFeminist movement
The feminist movement refers to a series of campaigns for reforms on issues such as reproductive rights, domestic violence, maternity leave, equal pay, women's suffrage, sexual harassment and sexual violence...
in Egypt. She stood out because many of her views echoed nationalism
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
as well as equal opportunities for women. Along with highlighting the education of women, she was also a leading role model
Role model
The term role model generally means any "person who serves as an example, whose behaviour is emulated by others".The term first appeared in Robert K. Merton's socialization research of medical students...
in breaking down the social constructs of women. She and her partners in the feminist movement believed that a radical call for unveiling of women was not needed in the beginning of the movement because Egypt was not ready to accept it. However, after attending a conference in Rome in 1923, she along with Huda Shawari and Ceza Nabarawi came back to Egypt unveiled as a proclamation to Egyptian society.5