Srbuhi Dussab (1840-1901)

Srbuhi was one of the progressive Armenian women of her time, one of the pioneers of the introduction of feministic ideas and movement in Armenian (namely in Western Armenian reality), as well as a poet and a novelist. She was born in Constantinople in 1841 in a wealthy family and studied at a French school. According to the contemporaries, she used to speak English, Greek, Italian and French[1]. In 1880 she became the supervisor of The School-Loving Ladies’ Society, that trained female teachers for Armenian schools in provinces[2]. Dussab was the first Armenian female novelist. She published “Mayta”, “Siranuysh” and ”Araksya or Varjuhi” novels discussing marriage for love and criticizing forced marriages[3]. She believed that women had to become full-fledged members of society and being a good mother and wife was not sufficient for happiness[4]. Her ideas faced the criticism from the conservative part of Armenian reality and she was accused of imitating European fashion and advocating prostitution under the name of women’s freedom[5]. Despite criticism, many people encouraged her and one of her works, “Mayta” became a prayer-book for wide circles of Armenian women.