Fatma Naout

A pioneering Egyptian feminist and educator who championed women's rights and modern education in early 20th century Egypt

Early Life and Education

Born in 1895 in Cairo, Egypt, Fatma Naout emerged as a trailblazer in women's education during a time when female literacy rates were below 10%. She graduated from the Egyptian University (now Cairo University) in 1918, becoming one of the first women to earn a degree in modern sciences.

Founding the Modern Girls' School

In 1923, Naout co-founded the Al-Mouhamedia School for Girls, which pioneered co-educational programs and introduced science curricula previously reserved for boys. This institution became a model for future girls' schools across North Africa, as documented in Wikipedia's entry.

Advocacy Work

Naout organized the first Egyptian women's congress in 1925, advocating for voting rights and property ownership. Her 1930s campaigns led to the establishment of the first women's hospital in Alexandria, as detailed in Egyptian History Archives. She also translated influential feminist texts like Simone de Beauvoir's The Second Sex into Arabic during the 1950s.

Legacy

Her work laid foundational frameworks for Egypt's 1956 family law reforms. Today, the Fatma Naout Award recognizes contributions to women's education in the Arab world. Her methodologies influenced modern educational policies in Tunisia and Morocco according to African Women's Heritage.