THE WOMEN OF SYRIA.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 828, 31 July 1933, Page 9

THE WOMEN OF SYRIA.

Polygamy is Dying Out in Cities. The awakening of Syrian women can be traced back to the declaration of the Turkish Constitution in 1908, states a new issue of “ Stri Dharma.” People then began to speak against old customs which retarded the progress of the country, and though such movements were repressed, important reforms were made in the laws affecting women and many schools for girls were opened. In 1916 women teachers came to Syria from Constantinople and began to teach Syrian girls something of their rights. After the war Syria became independent and began to feel the necessity of improving women’s conditions. It is worth metioning that some of the members of the Syrian Parliament asked for the suffrage for both sexes, but they had not a majority. Many schools were opened, women’s associations were founded and magazines and papers dealing with women's questions began to circulate. Many women were working as doctors, lawyers, teachers, typists, nurses, etc. Many of the poorer girls -were able to earn their living in the new textile industry. Then came the mandate, and shortly afterwards revolution broke out which led to the closing of schools, the dissolution of the women’s societies and other checks. In 1927 the movement made a fre«h start, schools, organisations of many kinds and charitable institutions were again started and Syria is going j ahead. There is a monthly paper. “ The Woman." founded bv Miss Nadime ElMinkari. It is a small paper and manages to keep going, though it cannot afford to deal frankly with the women’s demands. There are more than twenty associations working for the women’s movement, the chief being the Oriental Union, the Women’s Union of Lebanon and Svria. and the Temperance Society in Damascus. Some 40 per cent of the women can read and write. There are xnanv girls’ schools in the cities and towns, but not in the villages. A few years ago when a -■’an wanted to marry a girl he would ask if she could cook, wash, etc., but now he also asks whether she can read and write, where she was edi-cated. and c he can do. Women are employed in the professions. and also in handicrafts, especiallv the weaving of rugs. Girls marry at the age of from 1.5-25 and men from 20-30. Polygamy is rare in the cities, but is vet to be found in the villages. The courts ran grant divorce to a woman at her request if she can prove good grounds. Some of the educated worn n and those of rich families are noted for thejr extravagance in dress. 1