This Egyptian cartoonist is taking a stand on women’s rights through her art

Nisaa FM: - There’s a long, troubling history of political cartoonists being persecuted, arrested, and even killed because of their art. But despite this, cartoonists continue to challenge authorities and bring controversial issues into focus despite the risks involved with their profession–or, in some cases, the added liability of being a woman.

Named “The Cartoonist breaking gender taboos”

Doaa el-Adl is an Egyptian Female Cartoonist famous for her expressive cartoons that have obvious political, social and human messages. She is considered the most important and influential female cartoonist in Egypt. The BBC named Doaa el-Adl “The Cartoonist breaking gender taboos” when they choose her to be on the list of 100 inspirational and influential women around the world for 2016.

El-Adl has made it her specialty to break taboos like female gender mutilation and sexual harassments. Her top priority is always the ordinary citizens, expressing their problems and worries in her cartoons. The cartoon to the right was made by Doaa el-Adl on the International Women's Day March 8.

Back in 2012, el-Adl was actually charged with blasphemy for her cartoon that appeared in the Al Masry Al Youm newspaper, showing an angel pompously informing Adam and Eve that they’d be more than welcome to stay in the Garden of Eden–that is, if they voted for the right candidate. But whatever pushback el-Adl has received, there’s been accolades to cushion her, namely being the first woman to receive the Egyptian Journalists’ Syndicate’s Journalistic Distinction award for caricature in 2009 and the BBC honour in 2016.

“At the beginning of my career, I was not aware of what my role should be. But by the time I realized that, I knew I had to make a difference as a female cartoonist,” el-Adl has said in an interview with Channel 4 News. “That’s why the women’s causes depicted in my cartoons are an integral part of me, as I faced many of these situations myself.”

Find out more on Doaa el-Adl

She started cartooning 10 years ago after studying theatre and cinema décor at university, and working as a graphic designer. Her first job was drawing to children’s tales until she landed the jobs caricaturing for newspapers.

She works mainly as a daily cartoonist, and has her own visions and interests driving her to choose one of the daily incidents to elaborate on in her drawings. Her interests are women, workers, and marginalized people - generally people without a voice and normally neglected by the media.

Doaa el-Adl has published a book: ”50 drawings and more about women”. The book portrays all women including the fat and the not so pretty. She wishes to establish the fact that we should not only talk about the ideal women. ”I decided to shed the light on all what is related to women. My book is not about the Egyptian women only, it is about women everywhere.”

The cartoon to the left is made by Doaa el-Adl's in connection with the #MeToo-campaign in 2017.

Source: www.fastcompany.com

Find Doaa el-Adl’s cartoons at www.cartoonmovement.com