Arab women by Occupation S - Z

 

Mahin Khatami

Iranian

1943-

Scientist - Molecular Biologist

  • educated Teheran University, State University of New York and University of Pennsylvania
  • Research Specialist and instructor 1974-
  • Consultant to University of Tabriz and Teheran
  • Research Service Award, National Institute of Health (USA)1982-5

International Who’s Who of Women. 3rd ed. London: Routledge, 2002. Print. p.295. (DWC collection REF CT3202.I58 2002)

Zohra ben LAKHDAR

 Tunisian

Scientist - professor of molecular spectroscopy

  • educated at University of Paris VI and University of Tunis
  • Professor of Physics, University of Tunis 1992-
  • Founder member of Tunisian Physics Society, Tunisian Astronomy Society
  • Fellow of Islamic Academy of Sciences

International Who’s Who of Women. 6th ed. London: Routledge, 2008. Print. p.480. (DWC collection REF CT3202.I58 2008)

http://www.ias-worldwide.org/profiles/prof40.htm

Asmahan

(Amal al Atrache)

 

Syrian

b.1912 - 1944

Singer / Dancer

  • born into an aristocratic family in the Druze mountains
  • moved to Egypt in 1925 after her uncle led an uprising against the French mandate in Syria
  • began to work as a singer with her mother Princess Alia at private parties, later began to sing in night clubs with her brother Farid al Atrash
  • attracted the support of the Egyptian royal family
  • In 1937, she recorded her first song Aleik Salat Allah (For you is the prayer of God)
  • briefly married to Prince Hasan al Atrash
  • In the 1940s, Asmahan recorded her masterpieces Ya Habibi Ta'ala Lhakni (My Love Come Follow Me, Majnoun Layla (Layla Fanatic), Layali al-Uns fi Vienna (Nights of Companionship in Vienna)
  • rivalry with Umm Kulthum
  • 1942 started to co-star with her brother Farid in Egyptian feature films like Intisar al-Shabab (Victory of Youth) and Gharam Wa Intikam (Love and Revenge)
  • she stopped her performances feeling she was too aristocratic to sing in public
  • al ledged to have worked with the British Intelligence during World War II. Using her connections in the Druze Mountain, she even facilitated the entry of Allied forces into Syria, through the mountain, to expel the pro-German regime of General Henri Dentz
  • died in a car accident in 1944

Zuhur, Sherifa. Asmahan's Secrets: Woman, War and Song. Austin: Center for Middle Eastern Studies, University of Texas at Austin, 2000. Print. (DWC collection Biography ML420.A92 Z85 2000)

http://www.utexas.edu/utpress/books/zuhasp.html

Googoosh

(real name Fa'egeh Atashin)

Iranian

b. 1950

Singer and actor

  • began singing to earn a living in Tehran when only 5 years old
  • first film role in 1958 in Bim va omid/Fear and Hope
  • first successful role in the film Fereshteye Farari/Runaway Angel (1960) when she was 10
  • her musical talents and ability to remain at the cutting edge of fashion supported her film career
  • her popular films include Bita, Mah-e Asal/Honeymoon, Hamsafar, Mamal Amrikaie/Mamal the American, 3 Divaneh/3 Lunatics and the risque Dar Emtedad-e Shab/Through the night
  • not allowed to perform on stage in Iran after the Revolution or to tour abroad and sing in public until 2000

Leaman, Oliver, ed. Companion Encyclopedia of Middle Eastern and North African Film. London: Routledge, 2001. Print. p.214. (DWC collection PN1993.5.A65 C66 2001)

Umm Kulthum

Egyptian

1904 - 1974

Singer and actor

  • known as the Kawakab al-sharq "Star of the Orient" and as al-sitt "the mistress"
  • considered to be the most extraordinary and popular Egyptian singer of the 20th century
  • appeared in 6 films beginning in 1936 with Widad
  • her best film is considered to be Sallama 91945) in which she appeared as a faithful and talented slave
  • not a gifted actress and did not continue acting after 1947

http://edmund2.hiof.no/egypt/700/780/umKoulthoum/biography.html

Umm Kulthum. (n.d.). Wikipedia. Retrieved August 13, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umm_Kulthum

Leaman, Oliver, ed. Companion Encyclopedia of Middle Eastern and North African Film. London: Routledge, 2001. Print. p.125. (DWC collection PN1993.5.A65 C66 2001)

Fayrouz

(Nuhad Haddad)

Lebanese

b. 1935

Singer and Actor

  • studied at the National Conservatoire of Music (Lebanon)
  • married composer Assi Rahbani in 1955
  • Assi and his brother Mansour composed more than 300 songs and musical comedies for Fayrouz
  • appeared in several films including Bayya al Khawatim/The Seller of Rings (1965), which had an acclaimed musical score and coherent story; and Bint al haris/Daughter of the Guardian (1968),
  • her songs appear in nearly every Arab film made during the height of her popularity
  • remained in Lebanon during the Civil War, a move which only increased her great popularity

http://www.fayrouz.org/

http://www.lebwa.org/life/fayrouz.php

Leaman, Oliver, ed. Companion Encyclopedia of Middle Eastern and North African Film. London: Routledge, 2001. Print. p.388. (DWC collection PN1993.5.A65 C66 2001)

Magida El Roumi

Lebanese

b. 1956

Singer

  • Daughter of Halim El Roumi
  • Educated Lebanese University
  • first recording Amm Bahlamak Ya Helm Ya Lenan (1975)
  • only film to date "Awdet El Ebn El Dal" (Return of the Prodigal) 1976. Received Egyptian critics award
  • 1977 released her first album Magida El Roumi Vol.1 (Widda)
  • appeared at the Carthage Festival, Jarash Festival 1980

International Who’s Who of Women. 3rd ed. London: Routledge, 2002. Print. p.160. (DWC collection REF CT3202.I58 2002)

Marzieh

Iranian

1924-

Singer

  • educated College of Esmatieh (Teheran) and National Music Association of Iran
  • singer of traditional and classical Iranian music
  • performs in concerts in Iran before 1979 revolution
  • refused to sing in Iran after 1979
  • came to Europe 1994
  • distinguished for her innovation in and influence on Persian music
  • awarded US Congressional Record 1995

http://www.iran-e-azad.org/mz/mzprofile.html

International Who’s Who of Women. 3rd ed. London: Routledge, 2002. Print. p.366. (DWC collection REF CT3202.I58 2002)

Sherihan (Sherihan Ahmed Abd El Fatah Al Shalakani)

Egyptian

b. 1965

Singer

  • member of a family famous in the entertainment field, the Khorshids.
  • Dancer, singer, actress, playwright

Sherihan. n.d.Wikipedia. Retrieved September 2, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherihan

Fatima Mernissi

Moroccan

1941

Sociologist and writer

  • educated University of Paris (Sorbonne)
  • Professor at University Mohammed V (Rabat)
  • published Fear of Modernity or the Political Harem, Dreams on the threshold

http://www.fundacionprincipedeasturias.org/ing/04/premiados/trayectorias/trayectoria767.html

International Who’s Who of Women. 6th ed. London: Routledge, 2008. Print. p.575-576. (DWC collection REF CT3202.I58 2008)

Sahar Al Hawari

 Egyptian

Sportswoman

  • established the Egyptian Association for Women's Football 1994
  • organized first Arab Women's Football Tournament in 1997
  • president of first Arab Women's Football League
  • first woman to be member of Egyptian Football Association
  • her committment to sport has led her to become a sporits commentator, sports manager and referee

http://66.218.71.225/search/cache?p=egyptian+women%27s+football+association&ei=UTF-8&vm=i&n=20&fl=0&url=24kT-74aDuoJ:multimedia.olympic.org/pdf/fr_report_207.pdf

http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/1999/454/sp2.htm

Raja Easa Al Gurg

Emirati

b. 1953

Teacher / Business woman

  • graduated from Kuwait University in 1977 with degree in English Literature
  • first worked at the Ministry of Education, UAE as a teacher then as a deputy head mistress
  • 1990 she began work for her father's Al Gurg companies,
  • now responsible for 29 companies and 3000 employees
  • President of the Business Women's Committee under the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry

http://www.gulfnews.com/Articles/people-places.asp?ArticleID=54410

Assia Djebar

(real name Fatima-Zohra Imalayen )

Algerian

b.1936

Writer , Film maker , poet,

  • first Algerian woman to be admitted to the prestigious Ecole Normale Superieure de Sevres in Paris
  • first novel "La Soif" published in 1957, she has since published numerous novels and collections of stories, a collection of poems and the essay "Chronicle of an Algerian Summer" (1993)
  • directed "La nouba des femmes du Mont Chenoua"/Noubat Nissa Jabal Chnouwwa in 1978. This innovative film explores time, legend and collective memory as it weaves together the stories of the various characters
  • Zerda wa Aghani al-Nisyan/The Zerda and the songs of forgetfulness (1982) is a personal work which views women's place in history and society and focuses on music as a factor of Maghreb life
  • 1990 co-directs Femmes en mouvement/Women on the move

http://www.emory.edu/ENGLISH/Bahri/Djebar.html

http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/djebar.htm

Source: Companion Encyclopedia of Middle Eastern and North African Film ed. Oliver Leaman London: Routledge, 2001 p.463
Hafsa Zinai Koudil

Algerian

1951

Writer and film maker

  • campaigns for rights of women
  • participant at Amiens Film Festival 1994 and International Women's Film Festival 1995
  • publications include La fin d'un reve 1984 and Le passe decompose 1993 and Le mariage de jouissance
  • film Le demon au feminin 1993

The International Who's Who of Women. 6th ed. London: Routledge, 2008. Print. p.465 (DWC collection REF CT 3202.I58 2008)
Aisha Abdel-Rahman, (pen name: Bint el-Shati)

Egyptian

1913 - 1998

Writer and University Professor

  • Educated at Cairo University.
  • Began career as assistant lecturer at Cairo University in 1939
  • became Professor of Arabic Literature and Chair Univ. Coll for women in 1962.
  • Publications include: Rissalet el Ghofram by Abul Ala'a 1950, New Values in Arabic Literature 1961, The Koran: Literary Interpretation 1962, Ibn Seeda's Arabic Dictionary 1962, Contemporary Arab Women Poets 1963, as well as 2 novels and 4 volumes of short stories.

International Who’s Who of Women. 3rd ed. London: Routledge, 2002. Print. p. 1 (DWC collection REF CT3202.I58 2002)

http://www.arabworldbooks.com/authors/aisha_abdelrahman.html

http://www.mideastnews.com/aisha.htm

Nawal El Saadawi

Egyptian

b.1931

Writer, feminist, sociologist, medical doctor

  • 1955 graduated from University of Cairo with degree in psychiatry.
  • becomes Egypt's Director of Public Health
  • 1972 publishes "Women and Sex". This highly controversial work results in her dismissal from the Ministry of Health, from the post of Chief Editor of a health journal, and from her position as Assistant General Secretary in the Medical Association of Egypt
  • 1973-76 researched women and neurosis in Ain Shams University
  • 1977 publishes most famous work "The Hidden Face of Eve"
  • 1979-80 appointed as United Nations Advisor for the Women's Program in Africa and the Middle East
  • 1981 formed the Arab Women's Solidarity Association
  • 1981 imprisioned and books banned
  • 1983 publishes "Memoirs from a women's prison" an account of her imprisonment under Anwar Sadat
  • 1992 moved to United States
  • 1993-96 Writer in Residence at Duke University, and taught at Washington State University

http://www.nawalsaadawi.net/bio.htm

The International Who's Who of Women 3rd ed. Europa Publications: London, 2002 p.160

Emily Nasrallah

 

Lebanese

1931

Writer

  • educated at Shoueifat National College, Beruit Univeristy College and American Univeristy of Beriut
  • wrote for Al Sayyad magazine and Al-Anwar newspaper 1955-70
  • writer and editor Fayruz magazine 1981-87
  • ECWA delegate to UN Women's Forum on Population 1974
  • awarded Khalil Gbran Prize, Arab Heritage Union in Australia 1991
  • publishes novels and non-fiction

Nasrallah, Emily. In International Who’s Who of Women. 6th ed. London: Routledge, 2008. Print. p. 611. (DWC collection REF CT3202.I58 2008)

emilynasrallah. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Aug. 2009. http://www.emilynasrallah.com.

“Emily Nasrallah Lectures on Pioneer Arab Women.” AUB Bulletin Today 6.2 (Dec. 2004): n. pag. Web. 8 Sept. 2009. http://staff.aub.edu.lb/~webbultn/v6n2/09.html

Nasrallah, Emily. “September Birds.” 1962. Trans. M Yacoubian and M Cooke. Opening the Gates: an Anthology of Arab Feminist Writing. Ed. M Badran and M Cooke. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2004. 144-154. Print. (DWC collection HQ1784.O64 2004)

Nasrallah, Emily. “Those Memories.” Women and the Family in the Middle East: New Voices of Change. Ed. E W Fernea. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1985. 183-190. Print. (DWC collection HQ1784.W65 1985)

Emily Nasrallah. (n.d.). Wikipedia. Retrieved August 13, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emily_Nasrallah

Rose Ghurayib

Lebanese

 

Writer

  • educated at the American University of Beruit
  • teacher of Arabic and History
  • Editor and Consultant for Al Raida, quarterly newsletter of Institute for Women's Studies in the Arab World
  • writer of books, poems and plays for children
  • publications include The Harem Window, Sisterhood is Global, Adwa' Ala al-Haraka al-Nissaiya al-Mua'asirah

The International Who's Who of Women 3rd ed. Europa Publications: London, 2002 p.204
Shaikha Mubarak Al Nakhy

Emirati

b. 1952

Writer

  • educated at UAE University
  • director of Al Gubaiba secondary school
  • pioneer of the short story in the UAE
  • manager of the Emirates Organization of Women Writers
  • Awarded Most Successful Teacher prize by Sheik Khalifa bin Zaued in 1997
  • short stories include Soul's Broken, Night's Sadness, Departure, The North Wind,, Al Raheel