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.

Al Arus
EditorMary Ajami
CategoriesWomen's magazine
FrequencyMonthly
FounderMary Ajami
Founded1910
First issueDecember 1910
Final issue1925
Country
  • Egypt
  • Syria
Based in
LanguageArabic

History and profile

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Al 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

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Notable contributors of Al Arus included Kahlil Gibran, Mikhail Naimy, Elia Abu Madi, Maruf Al Rusafi and Abbas Mahmoud Al Aqqad.[2]

References

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  1. ^ Naomi Pham. "Rose Antun: Early 20th Century Arab Feminist Journalist". Al Jadid. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Mary Ajami: Snapshots from a life of activism". Syria Untold. 1 November 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  3. ^ "Mary Ajami, al Arous, v.1, no.1 (Dec 1910)". American University of Beirut. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  4. ^ Ola Rifai (December 2022). "Al-Nahda & the Emergence of Arab Feminist Thought". fikerinstitute.org. p. 6. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  5. ^ 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.