It is true that these opportunities for women have not yet become nation-wide in their scope, yet a nucleus of a very active and promising feminist movement is at present making itself felt in the Iraqi nationalist life.
It should be further noted here that the legal rights of the modern women of Iraq are guaranteed in the constitution such that there can be no discrimination against them in government appointments and civil service jobs. There is no legal bar to the advancement of women. The door of opportunity is wide open for Iraqi women.
It can safely be said that before World War I there was no women’s movement in Iraq. This is not surprising considering that during the period of the Ottoman Empire there was only one official elementary school for girls, which, however, would not admit more than ten students.
The tremendous advance made by Iraqi women since the formation of the national government and the achieve-
ment of Iraqi independence in 1924, testifies to the good-will of the government and the natural ability of the women. Educational opportunities now extend from the kindergarten up to the highest academic degrees. The government scholarships for study abroad are open to girls on an equal footing with boys. Thus, you now find among the women in Iraq fully qualified doctors, lawyers, pharmacists and teachers, all holding responsible government positions.
Mrs. Mayda Haydari Mahmoud
Observer of the Iraqi
Government to the « Commission
on the Status of Women » and Dele-
gate to the Conference of Women’s
Organizations in the Middle East.
