Damascus, Once the World Leading Centre of Astronomy
In the 14th century, Syria had two of the most notable astronomers who contributed to the world of astronomy and the Syrian Muslim community. Al Khalili came up with tables
July 3, 2024
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Louris Maher:Louris Maher:Syria’s First Woman to Graduate from the Faculty of Medicine
Louris Maher was a pioneer of Syrian medicine and feminism. She not only became the first Syrian woman doctor in 1936, but also published books, founded a baby food factory, and defied the oppressive norms of her time. Her story is an inspiration for all Syrians who aspire for a better and more equal future.
Louris Maher is the first Syrian woman to graduate as a doctor from Damascus University. Born in Damascus in 1910, she enrolled in the Faculty of Medicine after graduating from the Françiscaine School in the Shaalan neighborhood of Damascus. Her success wasn’t just limited to her degree, but also by the scientific books she published in the field of pediatrics, and her establishment of a factory to produce baby food in a time when Syria was under siege due to falling under a fascist rule during WWll. Establishing a local factory helped relieve Syria from one of the burdens of the siege. However, the main achievement and the reason behind her success is Louris’s courage in challenging the status quo and society’s limiting ideals and traditional concepts of a woman’s role in Syria. These traditional concepts and patriarchal ideals have had negative effects that we still live through today. It is up to us to emulate women and individuals like Louris for the sake of a future Syria that empowers our women (particularly after years of war) and is built on the foundations of gender equality.
