Marie’s Story - 13

Panel 1: The recognition of full political rights was a major achievement for the women’s movement. This victory—a direct result of women’s mobilizations—led to the foundation of a union of women’s organizations under the umbrella organization of the al-Majles al-Nissa’ al-Lubnani (Lebanese Council of Women – LCW) in 1952.

Panel 4: These feminist pioneers were generally far removed from the more material concerns of popular circles. Moreover, the LCW’s political structure mirrored that of the country’s institutionalized sectarianism, with its leadership positions alternating between Christians and Muslims. The feminist discourse of the first wave reveals overlap and confusion between a national “modern” identity and women’s rights identity within the family, which also reflected the discourse of the political parties of the period, whether on the left or right of the political spectrum.

Panel 4: The newspaper page behind Nidal is that of Annahar, Issue #2705, and can be seen at this link: https://womeninleadership.hivos.org/timeline/