Fathima Al-Amir Al-Sheikh

Pioneering Egyptian feminist and educator who established the first women's university in the Arab world

Fathima Al-Amir Al-Sheikh (1898-1975) was a visionary Egyptian educator whose work laid the foundation for women's higher education in the Arab world. Born into a prominent Coptic family in Cairo, she defied societal norms by pursuing a PhD in education from the Sorbonne in 1923, becoming one of the first Arab women to earn such a distinction. Her most significant contribution was founding the Al-Ahram Center in 1942, which later evolved into the Ahliyya Girls' College - the first institution of higher learning exclusively for women in the Arab region.

Al-Sheikh's pedagogical innovations included integrating practical training with theoretical studies, establishing the first nursing school in Egypt, and creating scholarship programs for rural girls. Her 1955 publication 'Education as a Weapon for Women's Liberation' became a cornerstone text for feminist educators across the Middle East. Despite government opposition, she maintained the college's independence during the Nasser era, secretly funding it through her textile manufacturing business - a venture that employed over 1,200 women at its peak.

Her legacy endures through the modern-day Ain Shams University's Gender Studies Institute, which operates under her educational philosophy. Al-Sheikh's advocacy for women's economic empowerment influenced policies in Jordan and Lebanon, and her correspondence with Iranian reformer Fatima Haqqi forms part of the British Museum's feminist archives. A recent documentary 'The Sorbonne's Daughter' (2022) explores her overlooked contributions to Arab women's rights.