Women’s Writing in the Arab World

This course examines Arab women’s writing through the lenses of both Arabic and Western feminist theory and criticism. Beginning with a survey of pre-modern female literary personae in Arabic (the elegist, the mystic, the singing slave), we will then examine major figures in the early modern feminist movement, modernist poetry, autobiography, film, and the novel. No Arabic required; supplemental Arabic section may be offered at the discretion of the professor. Texts by Etel Adnan, Salwa Bakr, Hoda Barakat, Assia Djebar, Nazik al-Mala’ika, Alifa Rifaat, Hanan al-Shaykh, Miral al-Tahawy, Fadwa Tuqan, Adania Shibli. Films by Moufida Tlatli, Annemarie Jacir.