Linda Matar

Linda Matar, known primarily as a Lebanese women's rights activist, joined the League of Lebanese Women's Rights in 1953. She then became their president in 1978, where she presided for 30 years. She was also president of the Lebanese Council of Women for 4 years, 1996 to 2000. Furthermore, Matar has been a part of 50 plus conferences around the world. Linda first starting fighting towards Lebanese gender equality, when she began working in a silk factory at the 12 years old.

Linda first realized the injustices towards Lebanese workers in society at age 12, when she stopped going to school to work in a silk factory. On top of work, Matar had to attend classes at night to provide finachially for her parents. Linda then, at age seventeen, got married. It is also suggested that Linda had kids as well. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization held a tribute to honor Linda Matar's achievements, where she thanked her kids for their support. She also apologized for not being an attentive mother, as she was more invested in her work, rather than her kids. Later, at 90 years old, Matar had 8 great-grandchildren, 8 grandchildren, and 3 children.

Along with the fact that Linda worked in a silk factory, where she witnessed first-hand inequality among women, an event that took place when she was 28 also triggered her urge to end Lebanese enequality. In 1952, Matar also witnessed her epileptic neighbor get picked up to go vote at a nearby polling station. The neighbor was a man, who had both mental and phyical disabilites. However, because she is a women, she was not allowed to vote, despite having no disabilites. This is when Linda Matar decided to start being an activist for Lebanese women's rights. She also wanted to demolish laws that went against those rights.

Linda first became a regular member of the League of Lebanese Women's Rights. Later, she moved up to Secretary General. Then finally president of the League of Lebanese Women's Rights in 1978. Then in 1980, Linda introduced a list of laws in which Lebanese women and men would be fully equal. She proposed that women and men would be equal in all laws concerning family status, inheritance, and criminal laws. Furthermore, Linda was the co-founder of multiple, private Lebanese women's organizations. She also represented Lebanese women's rights in over 50 conferences around the world. One conference Linda Matar attended, in 1995, was the World Conference on Women in Beijing. Another, in 1975, was the UN conference on women in Mexico.In 1996, Linda became the president of the Lebanese Council of Women, resigning in 2000. Linda was also received acknowledgement of her achievements, by Maire Claire, a French Magazine, when she was voted as one out of one hundred Women Who are Moving the World.