Despite oppression, women were in the background while men stood in the forefront taking credit for work, and women consideration as second-class citizens and women’s rights issues were ‘elitist’ and unimportant.
Many women have soared to heights of success that were unmatched by that of a man at the time. There have been women who thrived and triumphed against all odds. There have been women who defended their country, women who recreated art, women who took office, women who changed policies, and women who thrived in sports, business, and ethics, according to the “Egyptian Streets” website.
This is just a sample of kind of the women who existed, still exist, and changed history through their achievements:
1- LOTFIA EL NADI
Eighty years ago, Lotfia El Nadi became the first Egyptian woman to be a licensed pilot. At age 26, she was among the youngest at the time to achieve her lifelong dream.
This remarkable woman, who was also a friend of Amelia Earhart, was made an honorary citizen by Switzerland and was an inspiration for women across Egypt and the world.
2- UMM KULTHUM
Umm Kulthum was an Egyptian singer, songwriter, and actress who sang for almost four decades. Her success as a singer and a songwriter exceeded that of others and the cultural power she has is unparalleled. She recorded hundreds of songs and her fame rose to levels unforeseen for Arab women at the time. She toured in the Middle East singing in cities like Damascus, Baghdad, Beirut, Tunis, and Tripoli. She had private concerts for Presidents and Royals. Today, Kulthum is regarded as the greatest female Arabic singer in history.
3- HILANA SEDAROUS
Hilana Sedarous is the first female Egyptian doctor. Born in Tanta, Sedarous was sent to London in 1922 to study mathematics and medicine. In 1930, she earned her doctoral and returned to Egypt. She established a private clinic specializing in obstetrics and gynecology.
4- DALIA MOGAHED
Dalia Mogahed made history when she became the first veiled Muslim woman to hold a position in the White House. In 2009, she was selected to be Barack Obama’s advisor on the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. Mogahed was also the Executive Director of the Gallup American Centre for Muslim Studies.
5- ANISSA HASSOUNA
Anissa Hassouna currently holds the position of executive director of Magdi Yacoub’s foundation, vice president of the board of the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights, and is a lecturer at the Banking Institute in Cairo and the Diplomatic Institute. Hassouna began her career as a diplomat for the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She later went on to work for the Council of Arab Economic Unity, Egypt’s International Economic Forum as the Director General, and Misr Iran Development Bank as Assistant General Manager.
6- SAMEERA MOUSSA
Sameera Moussa was a nuclear scientist who dedicated her life to making medical nuclear power affordable to all. Moussa arranged the Atomic Energy for Peace Conference. A pioneer in her field, she was honored and awarded posthumously by the Egyptian Army, and former President Anwar Sadat.
In 1952, however, she was killed when her car plummeted from a height of 40 feet after being invited somewhere in California, following a visit to the US. Her death is shrouded in conspiracy, with some blaming Mossad or other intelligence organizations for her death. The driver of her car disappeared and the invitation she had received turned out to be false.
7- KAMILIA ABDELFATTAH
Kamilia Abdelfattah is a pioneer in the field of child psychology. Abdelfattah established and headed the childhood higher institute studies of graduates at Ain Shams University (1981–1986). She was also chosen as the Woman of the Year in Who’s Who UK Encyclopedia 1997 and Cambridge University.
8- GAZBIA SIRRY
Gazbia Sirry is a prominent artist and professor of fine arts. Sirry has about 70 personal exhibitions across the Arab world, Europe, and the US. Regarded as one of the most distinguishable Egyptian artists of the past fifty years, her work has been featured in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; The Art & Science Museum Evansville, Indiana; The National Museum for Women in the Arts, Washington D.C.; and Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris. She has been awarded several fellowships from international universities one of which is the University of London.
9- AZZA FAHMY
Azza Fahmy is an iconic Egyptian jewelry designer who founded the Azza Fahmy Company. After acquiring a BA in Interior Design, Fahmy began her journey with jewelry in a Khan El Khalili workshop. Forty years later, her work has been featured globally in international Fashion Shows and her jewelry is recognized everywhere.
10- FARKHONDA HASSAN
Farkhonda Hassan is a geology professor at the American University in Cairo (AUC) and is chair of the Commission on Human Development and Local Administration of the Shura Council. Since 2000, Hassan has been a member of the National Council for Women in Egypt and is currently on the Gender Advisory Board of the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development and Secretary-General. Her career is centered around women’s causes in many aspects of society on a grass-roots level.
Written by Marwa Mostafa
