Women of Damascus

 

 The seclusion of women in the Arab Orient is beginning to soften. Women of the common folk do not veil themselves in the midst of their daily occupations and are, in this respect, much freer than wives of wealthy city-dwellers, be they Arab merchants or Turkish civil servants. Still, progress is proceeding apace among the latter, despite recently issued government regulations. As a result, wives of Arab and Turkish dignitaries are now receiving gentlemen from the acquaintances of their husbands. 

Gender segregation is a product of relatively recent times. Historically, women played a prominent part in the splendid courts of Cordoba and Granada, as well as in Baġdād under the ʿAbbāsids. They revealed themselves at games and competitions, navigated the social circles with absolute independence, and were the object of courtly and knightly worship.

Hans von Kiesling. Damaskus, altes und neues aus Syrien