Al-Fatat (periodical)
Egyptian women's magazine (1892–1894)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Al-Fatat (Arabic: الفتاة / ALA-LC: Al-Fatāh, lit. 'The Young Girl') was a women's magazine published in Alexandria, Egypt. The magazine was the first Arab women's magazine[1][2] and was one of the earliest publications in the country.[3] It was published from 1892 to 1894. Al-Fatat is the forerunner of the women's magazines in the Arab countries.[2]
| Categories | Women's magazine |
|---|---|
| Frequency | Monthly |
| Founder | Hind Nawfal |
| First issue | 30 November 1892 |
| Final issue | 1894 |
| Country | Egypt |
| Based in | Alexandria |
| Language | Arabic |
History and profile
Al-Fatat was launched by Hind Nawfal, a Lebanese Christian woman, in Alexandria in 1892.[4][5][6] Nawfal's father and sister also contributed to the establishment of the magazine[7] of which the first issue appeared on 30 November 1892.[8] Elisabeth Kendall stated that Nawfal's magazine had achieved a "fiery fusion of the political and literary".[9]
Al-Fatat was published by Nawfal for two years.[1][10][11] She also wrote editorials for the magazine,[11] which was published monthly in its initial stage.[1] Later Al-Fatat began to be published twice a month due to its growing popularity.[1]
Being the first women's magazine in the country[8] as well as in the other Arab countries,[7] Al-Fatat initiated the tradition of the women's press in Egypt.[12] One of the major contributors was Esther Moyal, a Beirut-born Jewish journalist.[13] The magazine covered biographies of notable figures in addition to news concerning women.[14] It also included book reviews, poems and fashion articles.[4] Al-Fatat encouraged the participation of women in public life and debates and advocated modern ideals for women.[8] Therefore, it provided secular content and was a truly feminist magazine.[12] On the other hand, politics and religion were not the focus of the magazine.[15]
Al-Fatat ceased publication in 1894[14] when the founder and publisher Nawfal married and stopped dealing with the magazine.[1] The complete archive of the magazine was republished by the Women and Memory Forum in Egypt.[10]