Doria’s philosophical awakening and awareness of the need to pursue justice and equality for women can be traced to her first meetings with the grande dame of Egyptian feminism, Hoda Sha’arawi in 1928. After meeting Hoda Sha’arawi for the first time, Doria notes Hoda Hanem’s views on the condition of women, “Liberty was the profound goal of her ‘feminism’. I left her palace with an exalted sense of calm, convinced that nothing really worthwhile can be accomplished without suffering. She was an example of how the will of a woman can overcome the law. An example, which would forever remain in my memory and heart.”
In 1928 a national contest was held to choose the best essay by a young Egyptian woman honoring the memory of Qasim Amin, an eminent scholar who worked to advance the cause of reforming Islam to reflect the essential contribution of women in society. Doria's essay came first in this contest and she was invited to speak at a commemoration of Amin’s contributions. Hoda Sha’arawi chaired the event and their mentor-student relationship seems to have begun at this time. Doria’s achievement was all the more impressive as she won the contest before heading to France, at the mere age of 19 years old.
Speech Qasim Amin - 1928
Madam Huda Sha'rawi: One of your protégées has come from far to participate at this anniversary as much celebrated as painful. Qasim Amin Bey is a name which has been engraved in our hearts with gratitude eternally. Has he not been our guide in the darkness? I will try to be one of his disciples whose example will teach women to fend for themselves in spite of the necessities of material life. What ri\iseries the depths of the harems have concealed for so long! What experience can one acquire if one has simply made a trip from one part of the house to the other? And in her torpor, the woman was not aware of her own captivity; having always led the same life, she did not think she could liberate herself. I ask myself why certain men persist in isolating women. Do they believe that age-old traditions can be adapted to the current of modern life? Or is it that they do not understand the absolute value of liberty? Perhaps we should lock them up for one or two years for them to get the idea of what they impose on women.... Perhaps our distant ancestors, who burned their daughters alive, were a little more humane because when they took away liberty they took away life. You men, when you decide to let women out, you cover their faces with lugubrious black veils so that they can't see the world except through a cloud. And when you tire of the first wife, you believe you were wrong in your choice, so you take a second, and a third. It is useless to continue your search. They will always have the same nature-devious and ignorant.
Let man ask himself just once: What is a woman? She is a reasonable human being just like himself. Some men, anticipating the battle that would erupt if women were placed on a par with men, have argued against the instruction of young girls. They argue that within a few years we would have to deal with pedants who, with their science would come to dispute our position with us. You are mistaken gentlemen. You would deal with enlightened wives who with true affection would serve your home from the heart. Would you content yourselves with a heart with¬ out any knowledge of life? Do you believe that a woman could truly love you if she did not understand you? And for her to understand you, mustn't she be educated? Young girls of today, are they not the mothers of the future? Does an ignorant mother know how to give her child a clear idea about infinity, duty, justice? Would she know how to explain the course of the planets, if she herself takes them for brilliant pearls, scattered on a black ceiling? One young woman assured me the other day that a moon exists for each particular town. In this case, if men have the fancy to create a new town, God will have to create a new moon. That is where the deductions of ignorant women lead us. It's in the un selfish love of the mother, in this true love of the husband, that one sees the reflection of divine religion. You men construct walls around your daughters, you multiply the number of gates and guards, but you forget that walls are never high enough for feminine ruse. To enable them to communicate with the outside world, your daughters have an old woman or a domestic servant. You show them the world through the windows of their imagination so they see only illusions. And at the first opportunity they fall into the abyss. Why don’t you use religion as your support? Give your daughters a good conscience and let them out into the world.