Tunisian women's roles in the independence struggle

Tunisian women played a significant and often overlooked role in the nation's struggle for independence from colonial rule. Their involvement spanned various social classes and regions, beginning as early as 1881 with tribal resistance. During the 1915 uprisings in the south, such as those of the Ouled Baba and Ouled Derna, many women faced violence, injury, or death at the hands of colonial forces.

In the 1930s, female activism became more organized. In 1936, Bchira Ben Mrad founded the Union musulmane des femmes de Tunisie, establishing national networks despite facing multiple arrests by French authorities. Following an assassination attempt against her in 1953, she was referred to by Habib Bourguiba as the ‘mother of Tunisia.’

Collective mobilization was also visible in public demonstrations, notably on April 9, 1938, in front of the General Residence. Individual activists like Chérifa Fayach continued their political engagement even after sustaining serious injuries, such as gunshot wounds, illustrating the personal risks taken by these women throughout the independence movement.