Women’s Empowerment in the Fields of Education and Culture in Libya (1956–1968): A Longitudinal Study of the Content of Al-Tali‘a Newspaper

Abstract

This study examines the role of Al-Tali‘a Newspaper in supporting and empowering Libyan women in the fields of education and culture between 1956 and 1968, within the broader context of a newly independent state striving to build its institutions and consolidate its identity amid economic, social, and cultural challenges that limited women’s participation. The significance of the study lies in documenting Libya’s transformative foundational period and in employing the press as a rare archival source to trace women’s educational and cultural issues at a time when book publishing was relatively weak.

The research adopts a descriptive-analytical approach using content analysis, examining materials published—particularly in the “Women’s World” section—to identify dominant themes, modes of representation, and media strategies addressing women’s empowerment.

The study aims to identify the educational and cultural institutions for women highlighted by the newspaper, analyze the methods used to support and empower them, and explore the challenges facing women’s education and the proposed solutions.

Findings indicate that the newspaper played a significant developmental and awareness-raising role that exceeded its professional orientation, contributing to public discourse on women’s education and serving as an important documentary source for a pivotal stage in the history of Libyan women’s empowerment.