Rawya Ateya facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rawya Ateya
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Rawya Ateya used her military experience as a political asset during her 1957 electoral campaign, hence her appearance in uniform at rallies.
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| Member of the National Assembly of Egypt | |
| In office 14 July 1957 – 1959 |
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| President | Gamal Abdel Nasser |
| Constituency | Cairo |
| Majority | 110,807 |
| Member of the People's Assembly of Egypt | |
| In office 1984–? |
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| President | Hosni Mubarak |
| Preceded by | Farkhounda Hassan |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Rawya Shams el Dine Ateya
19 April 1926 Giza Governorate, Egypt |
| Died | 9 May 1997 (aged 71) |
| Political party | National Democratic Party |
| Alma mater | Cairo University |
| Profession | Teacher, Journalist, Politician |
| Awards | Badge of the Third Army Medallion of 6 October Medal of the armed forces |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Egypt |
| Branch/service | Liberation Army |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | Commandos |
| Battles/wars | Suez War |
Rawya Ateya (Arabic: راوية عطية) was an amazing Egyptian woman. She was born on April 19, 1926, and passed away on May 9, 1997. In 1957, she made history by becoming the very first woman to be a member of parliament in the entire Arab world. This was a huge step forward for women everywhere!
Contents
Rawya Ateya's Early Life
Rawya Ateya was born in Giza Governorate, Egypt, on April 19, 1926. She grew up in a family that was very involved in politics. Her father was a leader in the liberal Wafd Party. His political work even led to him being put in prison.
Rawya herself started joining protests when she was very young. She was even hurt during anti-British protests in 1939. It was quite unusual for Egyptian girls at that time to study as much as she did. She earned several university degrees in different subjects:
- A degree in literature from Cairo University in 1947.
- A diploma in education and psychology.
- A master's degree in journalism.
- A diploma in Islamic studies.
She worked as a teacher for 15 years. She also spent a short time, about six months, working as a journalist.
Rawya Ateya's Military Service
In 1956, Rawya Ateya became the first woman to be an officer in the Liberation Army. She played an important part in the Suez War. During this war, Egypt was invaded by the United Kingdom, France, and Israel.
Rawya helped train 4,000 women in first aid and nursing during the war. She held the rank of captain in a special women's commando unit. Later, during the October War in 1973, she led a group called the Society of Families of Martyrs and Soldiers. This group supported the families of soldiers who had died. Because of this, people called her "mother of the martyred combatants."
She received several military awards from the Egyptian government, including:
- The badge of the Third Army.
- The Medallion of 6 October.
- The medal of the armed forces.
Rawya Ateya's Political Career
In 1956, President Gamal Abdel Nasser made a new rule. He allowed Egyptian women to vote and to run for elected positions. The first elections under this new rule happened on July 3, 1957.
Becoming the First Woman Parliamentarian
In these elections, there were over 2,000 candidates, but only 16 of them were women. Surveys at the time showed that 70% of Egyptian men did not want women in Parliament. Despite these challenges, Rawya Ateya won a huge number of votes: 110,807 in her area!
She was elected from Cairo in the second round of voting. Rawya talked about how difficult it was for her as a woman. She said, "I was met with resentment for being a woman." But she spoke to people and reminded them of important women from history until they changed their minds. She also used her experience in the military to help her political campaign.
Rawya's victory was even more special because her opponent was a well-known lawyer and banker. He was even a friend of President Nasser. Rawya Ateya took her seat in the National Assembly on July 14, 1957. Another woman, Amina Shukri, was also elected in 1957. However, Rawya's victory was announced first. This made Rawya Ateya the first female parliamentarian in Egypt and the entire Arab world.
Her Time in Parliament
While in Parliament, Rawya Ateya strongly supported women's rights. Most members of parliament from cities like Cairo and Alexandria agreed with her. However, members from rural areas were strongly against these new laws, so they did not pass.
Rawya also traveled to other countries like China, India, the Soviet Union, and Czechoslovakia. After these trips, she told reporters that she liked the United States and its president, Dwight D. Eisenhower. She even said she wished Egypt could be more like the United States. Some people criticized her for this view. But she was able to avoid too much trouble because she was a strong supporter of President Nasser. She even called him "beautiful."
Later Political Work
Rawya Ateya's first time in Parliament was short. She lost her re-election bid two years later. However, she stayed active in public life. She served on the board of the Red Crescent.
Twenty-five years after losing her election, Rawya Ateya returned to Parliament. She was elected to the People's Assembly in 1984. She was part of the National Democratic Party. In 1993, she led the Population and Family Council for Giza. Rawya Ateya passed away in 1997 when she was 71 years old.
Rawya Ateya's Legacy
Rawya Ateya is seen as a very important person in the history of women's rights in Egypt and the Arab world. She opened doors for many women who came after her.
In December 2007, a special event was held in the Egyptian Parliament. It celebrated the 50th anniversary of Rawya Ateya's historic election victory. Important guests attended, including:
- Lateefa Al Gaood from Bahrain, who became the first female member of parliament in the Persian Gulf region a year earlier.
- Nada Haffadh, also from Bahrain, who was her country's first female cabinet minister.
See also
- List of the first female holders of political offices in Africa
