Al Arus, also known as Al Arous (Arabic: العروس, lit. 'The Bride') was a women's magazine which was one of the earliest feminist publications in the Middle East. It was also the first Arabic women's magazine in Syria.[1] The magazine appeared between 1910 and 1925 with some interruptions. The founder and editor of the magazine was a Syrian woman, Mary Ajami. It was first based in Alexandria, Egypt, and then in Damascus, Syria.
| Editor | Mary Ajami |
|---|---|
| Categories | Women's magazine |
| Frequency | Monthly |
| Founder | Mary Ajami |
| Founded | 1910 |
| First issue | December 1910 |
| Final issue | 1925 |
| Country |
|
| Based in | |
| Language | Arabic |
History and profile
editAl Arus was established by Mary Ajami, a Syrian Orthodox, in Alexandria in 1910 as a 32-page women's magazine.[2] Its first issue appeared in December that year.[3] Ajami also edited the magazine which featured articles on history, literature, culture and medicine focusing on the problems of women.[4] Shortly after its start, the magazine moved to Damascus, the hometown of Ajami.[5] It was expanded, becoming a 40-page monthly magazine which temporarily ceased publication in 1914 when World War I began.[2][5]
The magazine resumed publication in Damascus after the war ended in 1918 and had 60 pages.[2][5] Al Arus folded in 1925 due to the Great Syrian Revolt.[2]
Contributors
editNotable contributors of Al Arus included Kahlil Gibran, Mikhail Naimy, Elia Abu Madi, Maruf Al Rusafi and Abbas Mahmoud Al Aqqad.[2]
References
edit- ^ Naomi Pham. "Rose Antun: Early 20th Century Arab Feminist Journalist". Al Jadid. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
- ^ a b c d e "Mary Ajami: Snapshots from a life of activism". Syria Untold. 1 November 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
- ^ "Mary Ajami, al Arous, v.1, no.1 (Dec 1910)". American University of Beirut. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
- ^ Ola Rifai (December 2022). "Al-Nahda & the Emergence of Arab Feminist Thought". fikerinstitute.org. p. 6. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
- ^ a b c Joseph T. Zeidan (1995). Arab Women Novelists: The Formative Years and Beyond. Albany, NY: SUNY Press. p. 246. ISBN 978-0-7914-2171-0.