One of us : representations of women in Arab literature

Abstract

This thesis focuses on the representations of women in Arab Literature as a response to Arab women’s material reality. Addressing and correcting the portraits of the Arab woman in literature is an integral step towards the establishment of an effective feminist politics.

The first part of this thesis tracks the depictions of Arab women from the era of classical literature to more contemporary works in the bid to procure a better understanding of the development and status of Arab feminism. The second part examines the works of prominent Egyptian Arab feminist, Nawal Zaynab-el Saadawi. Her texts explore Egyptian feminism, an avenue through which she reflects on the shared problems of non-Egyptian Arab women. Her writings challenge the status quo, exposing the perpetrators and mechanisms of oppression in Arab society. Through her protagonists, Zaynab-el Saadawi shows Arab women’s humanity and strength in overcoming the odds that are stacked against them in the patriarchal world they inhabit, concurrently empowering them and dispelling myths and misconceptions about Arab womanhood. This thesis also looks at the impact religion has on women and addresses some of the criticisms of Zaynab-el Saadawi’s works.

Arab women’s liberation cannot be divorced from the vitality of the country’s, region’s, and world’s socio-politico-economic health. These dynamics shape the lives and perceptions of Arab women. The road to establishing Arab feminism is also fraught with difficulty. However, there exist indicators pointing to the growing interest in feminism in Arab countries, proof that feminist efforts in the region are bearing fruit.