Arab Women Research Paper

There is distinction between lives of Arab Women and their perception by American Media.
The stereotypes spin out of control.
Rise of US Feminism and with the rise of ‘Islam’ as enemy emerged in 1970-80’s.

 History of Arab Feminism is long, layered and impressive. (Oxymoronic)
 Women NGO’s in Middle East and North Africa have risen exponentially in 1980-90’s.
 Ex: New Woman’s group, Arab Woman’s Publishing House, the Alliance of Arab Women, the association for the development and Enhancement of Women, Progressive Women’s Union.(In Egypt)

Books & Authors stating something

 Quran
 Leveled the social balances for Women.
 Women had the right to inherit property, own and operate businesses.
 Banned infanticide of newborn baby girls.
 Shirley Gutherie author of ‘Arab Women in the
Answer: Western sees men from East suppressing and scheduling their women and Easterner underlines the immorality of women in the west.

 Arab Feminism Today
 A recent memoir by Fay Ataf Kanafani,entitled ‘ Nadia, Captive of Hope: Memoir of an Arab Women’. Story is about a Palestinian woman who was married off to her cousin and then widowed during Arab-Israeli War. She describes the gender inequality during 1940-50’s and feminist principles.
 Noted Arab Feminist, Nawal al-Saadawi managed to keep her marriage intact despite an Egyptian lawsuit. She had been accused because of comments she made in an interview.
 Her Vocal opposition and other issues made her a target of Islamist Fundamentalists, who put her name on death list in 1993, prompting her to immigrate to US.
 Arab women reclaiming their identities and correcting historically maligned portray.
 Novel ‘In the eye of Sun’ written by Ahdaf Soueif. It’s a story about woman Asya who cheats her husband and has a brief affair with a person in England. Concept of odalisque and the stereotypes people have has been explained