The start of organized public activist of Armenian women is considered 1847 during which women from Khasgyugh from the Ottoman Empire came together and founded an association. No information on this organization is preserved, but it is known that the main goal of it was to assist the activities of female gymnasium in Khasgyugh and contribute to its advancement[1]. The same aim was pursued by the Foundation of Careful Women (Tiknants’ khnamakalut’ iwn ĕnkerut‛iwn) founded in Constantinople in 1859, and the main target of activities of the Foundation of the Charitable Women (Tiknants’ aghk’atakhnam ĕnkerut‛iwn) was charity[2]. There were more than ten organizations in Constantinople in the 1860s in Constantinople. This is an evidence for women’s active involvement. And the first organizations among Eastern Armenians under Russian Empire domination were the Foundation of Freobelian Armenian Women’s Charitable Society of Tiflis (Tiflisi Hayuhyats’ Meghu ĕnkerut‛iwn, the latter started its activities in 1879-1882)[3].
In the late 19th and early 20th century, a special position in the history of women’s non-governmental organizations was occupied by Armenian Women’s Meghu Society (Bee) of Tbilisi. The latter, unlike especially Western Armenian organizations carrying out enlightenment and charity activities, were concerned with solving issues related to women’s employment. Their moto read, “Employment instead of mercifulness[4].”
[1] See Harutyunyan, Anahit, Century of Outstanding Women, Armenian women’s social activities at 19th and 20th the beginning of centuries, Yerevan 2005, p. 36.
[2] Ibid, p. 36-40
[3] Ibid, p. 74.
[4] See Harutyunyan, Anahit, Century of Outstanding Women, Armenian women’s social activities at 19th and 20th the beginning of centuries, Yerevan 2005, pp. 100-101.