While Fardous' exuberance on this occasion may not have been unusual, her letter marks the first time that an Egyptian woman expressing her opinion in Al-Ahram signed her name in full. And, as though she had sounded a starting gun, suddenly Al-Ahram was flooded with letters from other female readers who no longer feared to disclose their identities in public. Certainly, women, at least those of the middle and upper middle classes, must have been emboldened by the fact that some very prominent women took part in the events of 16 March. One of these was Hoda Sha'rawi, who organised the women's march. Another was Safiya Zaghlul who insisted on keeping the home of Saad Zaghlul, the leader of the 1919 Revolution, open for the meetings of the nationalist leadership in spite of the threats she received from the British military authorities.
History is replete with the accomplishments of outstanding women.
Even our history teems with commemorations to famous educated women, female scholars of jurisprudence, female poets, female merchants and businesswomen and famous women in politics and power. But once history fell silent on women, civilisation degenerated and stagnated. Not only were these women well educated, but some also had professional careers. All shared the enthusiasm for the new role that was being allotted to Egyptian women. They saw Egyptian women taking to the street in protest against the injustices that befell their brothers.