Date of Award

5-2024

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.A.

Degree Program

History

Department

History

Major Professor

James Mokhiber

Second Advisor

Gunter Bischof

Third Advisor

Andrea Mosterman

Fourth Advisor

Christine Day

Abstract

This thesis examines the spaces created by the pioneers of the Syrian women’s movement in 1910-1920, Mary Ajami and Nazik al-‘Abed, using spatial analysis and analyzing the discursive space they created in their magazines. Throughout the brief independence during Prince Faysal’s rule in 1918-1920, Ajami and al-‘Abed mobilized to allow women to enter male-dominated spaces and discourses. They utilized their pioneering magazines, al-Arus and Nur al-Fayha,’ to reach women in public and private spaces. The Women’s Literary Forum was established to foster women’s self-representation and education. At the same time, the School for the Daughters of the Martyrs and Nur al-Fayha’ Society aimed to create an uncontested presence for women in national affairs. This paper aims to show that Ajami and al-‘Abed adopted a creative framework to help women gain their rights by linking the idea of women’s liberation with Syria’s independence.

Rights

The University of New Orleans and its agents retain the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible this dissertation or thesis in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. The author retains all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis or dissertation.

Available for download on Tuesday, May 08, 2029

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