At the very beginning of last autumn, discussions and studies began on woman's role and her activity in her various associations, under the supervision of the "International Federation of Business and Professional Women."
These discussions and studies, which were begun in Beirut and which were made possible only by material aid from the "Ford Foundation," covered five of the Arab states — Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon — all under the direction of Miss Ruth Woodsmall, who held the post of General Secretary of the Young Women's Christian Association between 1934 and 1948, a post which allowed her extensive travel through the countries of the Middle East and the Mediterranean shores, and a close acquaintance with the role that woman has played in every corner of our Arab world.
Also contributing to the accomplishment of this work is Miss Johnson, an expert in the affairs of the Arab woman by way of her work with the Red Cross federation in 1949–1950, and with the Palestinian refugees.
It is worth mentioning that the International Federation
Dr. Jamal Karam Harfush, president of the general conference, speaking — on her right Mrs. Georges Tabet (Lebanon); on her left Mrs. Salim Saab (Lebanon), Dr. Salwa Khoury (Jordan), and Dr. Lam'an Zaki (Iraq); and in front of Mrs. Tabet, Mrs. Agda Rössel, vice-president of the Federation of Business and Professional Women (Sweden)
Standing, Mrs. Myrdal (Sweden), delegate of UNESCO — on her right Mrs. Asma Fahmi (Egypt), and on her left Miss Ibtihaj Kaddoura (Lebanon) and Miss Ruth Woodsmall, director of the study
Standing, Mrs. Badi'a Afnan (Iraq); on her right Mrs. Bahija Rashid (Egypt), and on her left Dr. Zahida Hamid Pasha (Syria) and Miss Charlotte Johnson, Miss Woodsmall's assistant in the study.