Her Story ... Feminist & Activist
VII. A Feminist in Her Prime
Milestones:
1947 death of Hoda Shara'awi
DS lobbies for women's voting rights
1947 saw the passing of Hoda Sha’arawi, a woman who had had a massive influence in Doria’s life. Her death coupled with the 1948 war against Israel spurred Doria onto taking a fresh look at women’s issues, national issues and marked the beginning of a more militant phase in her life.
She took up the cause of changing the law prohibiting women from running for elected office and serving in parliament. She also advocated reinterpreting the Shari’a law allowing men four wives. However, her campaign to persuade parliamentarians to move to change these laws proved futile. With no women in parliament, there was no one to champion these causes.
She wrote,
“What capable hands can rouse them out of their sleep if not those of women? What heart is more susceptible to sympathizing with the sufferings of the woman if it is not the heart of a woman? Women must not only be present when laws concerning them are legislated; they must be involved in writing them. By demanding the totality of her rights, particularly her political rights, which are the basis of all rights, the woman could bring about fundamental changes in society.”
Doria decided to pursue these issues through the newly established Bint al-Nil Union that she launched as the successor to Hoda Sha’arawi’s Feminist Union. She saw herself as building on the good work of Hoda Hanem, adding blocks to an already existing foundation. Announcing the launch of the Bint al-Nil Union at a press conference, Doria was interviewed and delivered these bold statements.
