Sadat, Jehan (1933–)

Egyptian first lady and activist. Name variations: Gehan Sadat; Jihan Sadat. Born Jehan Raouf, 1933, in Roda Island, Egypt; dau. of Safwat Raouf (physician) and Gladys Charles Cotrell (British); Cairo University, BA in Arabic literature, 1978, MA, 1980, PhD in literary criticism, 1986; m. Anwar Sadat (president of Egypt, 1970–81), May 1949 (assassinated 1981); children: Loubna, Noha, Jihan and Gamal.

First lady who, unlike wives of previous Egyptian leaders, played a prominent role in Egyptian politics, particularly in advancing the cause of women's rights; aware of the subservient condition of Egyptian women, began advocating for change; to emphasize education for women, enrolled in Cairo University to study Arabic literature at age 41; was influential in the passage of a set of laws, known as "Jehan's Laws," whereby 30 seats in the Egyptian Parliament were set aside for women, and women were granted the power to divorce their husbands for polygamy or repudiation and retain custody of their children (1979); scandalized many with her independence and activism, her Western mannerisms and her willingness to grant personal interviews to Western magazines; after husband's assassination, held lectureships in US at University of South Carolina, American University in Washington, DC, Radford University in Virginia; became a professor of international studies at University of Maryland (1993).

See also autobiography A Woman of Egypt (Simon & Schuster, 1987); and Women in World History.