International Women’s Day Event Highlights Tunisia’s Forgotten Male Allies (1865‑1956)
On International Women’s Day, March 8, the Centre for Research, Studies, Documentation and Information on Women (CREDIF) hosted a scientific, cultural, and intellectual gathering on Friday evening. The event showcased the findings of the study “Men Who Supported Women in Tunisia Over a Century (1865‑1956)”.
“The study shines a light on male figures—often overlooked—who contributed to defending the rights of Tunisian women,” emphasized Sonia Ben Jemia, Director‑General of CREDIF.
Study Overview
- Research Team: Scholars from the humanities and social sciences at the universities of Sfax, Sousse, Manouba, and Tunis.
- Approach: Historical‑social analysis of the forms of support and the cultural‑political contexts that encouraged these male allies.
Key Findings
- Chronological Scope – 1856‑1956, ending with the 1956 Personal Status Code, regarded by the coordinator as the pivotal milestone of women’s emancipation.
- Catalyst Document – The study references the famous 13 February 1856 letter from historian Ahmed Ibn Abi Dhiaf to the French consul, which claimed that Muslim women had no rights. Ibn Abi Dhiaf’s reply outlined the reformist elite’s vision for women’s emancipation.
- Male Advocates – Men from diverse backgrounds who championed:
- Education for girls and women
- Employment opportunities
- Freedom of dress
- Public presence and access to professions traditionally reserved for men
The biographies were selected based on documented positions found in written sources, periodicals, audiovisual archives, and oral testimonies that demonstrate a clear commitment to Tunisian women’s cause—whether through individual actions or collective movements.
Methodology
The research analyses:
- Domains and forms of support (legal, educational, social, etc.)
- Arguments and rhetoric used to justify the support
- Motivations behind these stances, contextualized within the social, cultural, and political environments of the time.
Government Perspective
Speaking at the event, Asma Jebri, Minister of Women, Family, Childhood, and Seniors, highlighted that women’s rights are a societal issue championed not only by women but also by committed men. She added:
“This is an occasion to honor these men and valorize their contributions—not only for Tunisian women but also for future generations and society as a whole. Their journeys inspire us to strengthen justice and equality in citizenship, rights, and duties, and to promote inclusion, social cohesion, and the rejection of all forms of gender‑based violence, marginalization, and discrimination across social categories and regions.”
Publication & Further Reading
The study will be published during the upcoming Tunis International Book Fair.
Keywords: International Women’s Day, Tunisia, gender equality, historical study, male allies, women’s rights, personal status code, CREDIF, Tunis Book Fair.
