Rewriting Histories: The Experiences of Pioneering Egyptian Women Architects in the Socio-Political Context of the Nasser Era

The history of modern architecture has particularly emphasized the roles of male architects with little mention of women architects. Since women’s contributions have often been overlooked, feminist scholars worldwide have aimed to showcase women’s history in the architectural profession over the past several years. However, there is still a lack of scholarship on the historical experiences and contributions of women architects in the Middle East, particularly Egypt. This research aims to address this gap in historiography by focusing on the first women architects in Egypt during the Nasser era. As such, the study utilizes archival sources and examines various architecture and engineering magazines and state reports published during the mid-20th century. Our analysis reveals how early architectural pioneers such as Anjil Tawfik, Amina Maher, Zakeya Shafʿi, and Sawsan el-Qusbi faced considerable barriers related to societal norms and educational limitations. We argue that the idealized image of womanhood was a strategy employed by men to maintain the discipline as androcentric. In contrast, Nasser’s regime, which was concerned with Egypt’s modernization and development, enacted progressive policies to promote gender equality. The policies facilitated the entry of women into different fields including engineering and architecture. We examine the complex interplay between state feminism and persistent societal norms, noting how Abdel Nasser redefined the ideal image of women to one that balanced professional work with familial responsibilities. We explore the career trajectories of early pioneering women architects, arguing that al-taklif, the employment order mandated by Abdel Nasser in 1955, was not merely a work policy but also shaped the ideal image of professional life for women architects. We discuss women architects’ strategies to carve out a space for themselves in architectural practice. Finally, we address the lack of recognition for women architects’ work with a focus on Zakeya Shafʿi and Amina Maher, two pioneering Egyptian women architects.