Hoda Sha'rawi was an early pioneer of Egyptian feminist movement. She was one of a few women who participated in the national resistance against British occupation of Egypt; she also advocated equal opportunity for women. Sha'rawi was head of the first women's society in Egypt; she was also elected vice-president of the International Women's Association and president of the Arab Women's Association. It is noteworthy that she led the first women's demonstration in Egypt in 1919. She was an ideal for many other feminist leaders who followed her.

 

   Hoda Sha'rawi was born in el-Minya on July 23, 1879; she committed to memory the whole of the Holy Quran at the age of eight. Her father, Mohammad Sultan Pasha, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, died when she was eight years of age and she was brought up by mother. She was married to her cousin Ali Sha'rawi, who was a member of the delegation (Wafd) who went to see the British High-Commissioner in Egypt demanding right of independence in 1919. These circumstances were no doubt instrumental in making her a pioneer of women's awakening in both Egypt and the Arab world.

 

   Ali Sha'rawi, Mrs. Sha'rawi's husband, has the favor of her participation in public life and social activity which later extended to political involvement in the 1919 revolution. In 1907, Mrs. Sha'rawi urged Egyptian women to make and collect contributions to build a child welfare society. Her call was widely welcomed and contributions were collected, but owing to government intervention, the project was nipped in the bud.

 

  Hoda Sha'rawy formed "the Wafd Party's Central Committee on Women", which was in charge of supervising women's participation in the national movement at that time. Also, she urged women to participate, as far as they could, in national activities including preparations for demonstrations.

 

Her activities include:

-   The Foundation of the Egyptian Women's Union on March 18, 1923.

-   The Foundation of two magazines: "L'Egyptienne" in French, 1925 and "Al Misrya" in Arabic, 1937. Both magazines are specialized in women's issues.

-  Advocating girls' education and equal opportunities for women in education and employment.

-   Founding an orphanage and an atelier for women's crafts.

-   Thanks to her efforts a law was enacted in 1924, raising the marriage age to 16 for girls and 18 for men.

-  advocating the opening of secondary schools for girls, which led to the opening of As-Saniyya Secondary School for girls in 1924. She also advocated admission of girls into the university.

-  representing Egypt in about 14 international women's conferences. In 1924, she addressed a conference in Granz, Austria aimed to eradicate trading in women and children, calling for the shut-down of brothels around the world. She also highlighted the adverse effects of foreign concessions in Egypt.

-  In 1924, she reviewed major problems of Egyptian women in conference in Paris.

-  In a conference in Istanbul (1935), she was elected as vice president of the International Women's Association.

-  In 1944, she formed the Arab Women's Association to discuss the Palestine issue. It was a source of pride for Arab Women that the Arab Women's Association was founded prior the Arab League.

-  In 1945, she represented Egypt, together with Mrs. Siza Nabarawi and Mrs. Esmat Assem, spouse of the distinguished economist Tal'at Harb. She called for the prevention of nuclear weapons, particularly after the Hiroshima bombing.

 

  Mrs. Sha'rawi's life was a relentless endeavor in the interest of women's welfare and progress. She died in December 12, 1947.