Oral History Archive Mary Asaad

Mary Asaad is an Egyptian anthropologist, social development expert, and a women’s rights activist. She studied sociology and anthropology at the American University in Cairo, and was involved in the development of al-Zabaleen neighborhood at al-Mokattam. She also took part in the inauguration of the International Conference on Development and Population in 1994, with Aziza Hussein and others. Mary was one of the most avid opponents of FGM, and an active member of the Orthodox Church in Egypt. She served as a member of the World Council of Churches (WCC), then as the Deputy to the WCC’s Secretary-General, becoming the first woman to hold this position. In the interview, she shared her academic journey and career in social work.

Mary was born in Cairo’s al-Faggala district, and grew up with three sisters and a brother. She was raised by her mother, whom Mary described as a strong woman. Mary’s mother received a French education, and chose her own husband, which was unusual for girls at that time. The mother was keen on her children’s education and academic success. When one of Mary’s sisters expressed her desire to join the American College for Girls, the mother refused at first, in fear of the school’s excessively liberal attitude, yet, eventually bowed to her daughter’s desires. The mother also agreed to enroll her daughter into the American University, despite initially objecting to the concept of a mixed-sex education.

It was also the mother who offered Mary her first work opportunities. Mary got the jobs through her mother, who did not want her daughter to work with the Americans, or to be part of a mixed-sex work environment. That was the reason why the mother, without Mary’s knowledge, requested that the school principal appointed Mary to a post at the school. In addition, Mary’s mother was in charge of the family estate, and responsible for all the affairs concerning tax collection, and managing the peasants. According to Mary, her mother had a great impact on her life.

During her early education, Mary attended a public elementary school, then was enrolled into the American College for Girls, where she met many of her friends who stayed with her until the end, among whom was Aziza Hussein and Phoebe Shukri. Mary joined her classmates in all the school activities, as well as the trips and activities organized by the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA). She participated with the other young women members in the first YWCA conference after World War II, which was held in Ramallah.

Mary was engrossed in the YWCA activities, and its development. She encouraged former members to reengage with the Association, and raised a lot of funds. Mary recalled that in 1951, the English members were dispensed with, and the Association expressed its desire to recruit Egyptian members. YWCA also renovated its camps, and held lectures. Mary was then invited to work in Switzerland, and accepted the job without her mother’s consent. She was also trained by the UN, thanks to the YWCA Secretary who helped her reach the opportunity. In 1954, Mary served as the YWCA Secretary General. Mary was also an active member of the Orthodox Church, and expanded the range of its activities, in addition to serving as a member of the World Council of Churches (WCC).

Mary earned a master’s degree in sociology and anthropology, and worked at the Center for Social Research at the American University. Although she was unwilling to get married, which she attributed to her rebellious nature and love for independence, Mary ultimately got married. Her husband was a prominent member of the Protestant church, and played a role in affiliating his church with the WCC. Mary later received a scholarship from the World Health Organization to study for a specialized diploma in family planning from England, and was seconded as a commissioner to the Christian Medical Committee of the Supreme Council of Churches. The secondment came as a result of Mary’s work in the field of women’s health in general, and in combating female genital mutilation (FGM) in particular, in addition to the support she received from Ms. Laila al-Hamamsi.

Mary was offered a job in Switzerland as the Deputy to Philip Potter, the WCC’s Secretary-General. Although she eventually accepted the post, she initially declined the offer because she wanted to work directly with the people and provide aid. Mary recounted being subjected to discrimination and distrust by people who doubted her abilities, and claimed that she would not have been offered the post if she were not a woman.

Mary spoke about her accomplishments in advancing the women’s roles and representations, and her keenness on ensuring the sustained cooperation between girls and boys.  She worked on several women health projects, as well as projects tackling women’s issues from a religious perspective. She was also interested in the feminist rereading of religions. Mary joined the Environmental Protection League, and became a member of its board of directors, yet later resigned, and worked as a development consultant. Mary launched a wide and comprehensive invitation to the NGOs and civil organizations to investigate women’s health issues and female genital mutilation. She cofounded a development and health committee to provide medical aid to women and girls at al-Mokattam district, and to conduct healthcare visits. Mary made an attempt to teach the girls at the neighborhood to read and write, but failed.

Mary recounted working in al-Zabaleen neighborhood in Cairo, with the aim of reducing the high mortality rates among children, as a direct result of the widespread pollution. She managed to deliver vaccinations, and train girls at the neighborhood to administer the vaccinations to the children. She added that Ms. Laila al-Hamamsi launched production projects, including a carpet weaving project, to help secure incomes for girls, in addition to the reading, personal development, and healthcare projects. A nursery, a children’s club, and a summer camp were established to teach crafts, reading, and singing to the children at al-Zabaleen neighborhood. YWCA also invited one of the girls working in garbage collecting to share her experience at one of the Association’s conferences.

Mary worked on an initiative to encourage recycling, which later expanded into a project that secured employment for 100 girls. Her last initiative was a garbage sorting project at al-Zabaleen neighborhood, which was organized in cooperation with the people of the neighborhood, and the youth from all over al-Mokattam area, and in partnership with Dr.  Ayman Muharram, and his wife Ms. Nabila Saad. The project expended to include other neighborhoods, such as Tora and Katameya.

Among her numerous life achievements, Mary Asaad listed the summer schools she established in Sonbat, Zefta, to teach reading and handicrafts, and her work as an informal advisor to Bishop Samuel, as part of her duties with the World Council of Churches, as well as the training manuals and research she published on female genital mutilation during a conference in Khartoum addressing the practices harmful to women. Mary inaugurated the International Conference on Development and Population, along with Nihad Toubia, Aziza Hussein, Afaf Gad Allah, and Dalia al-Tayeb, and cofounded a documentation center for information and research on FGM, working alongside clerics and religious scholars to combat FGM, and inform men and young people about the harms of early marriage.