Arab Women's Lives Retold: Exploring Identity Through Writing (Gender, Culture, and Politics in the Middle East)

A collection of pioneering essays challenging the prevailing stereotypes of Middle Eastern women through the analysis of first-person writing. Examining late twentieth-century autobiographical writing by Arab women novelists, poets, and artists, this anthology explores the ways in which Arab women have portrayed and created their identities within differing social environments. Even as the collection dismantles standard notions of Arab female subservience, the works presented here go well beyond the confines of those traditional boundaries. The book explores the many routes Arab women writers have taken to speak to each other, to their readers, and to the world at large. Drawing from a rich body of literature, the essays collectively attest to the surprisingly lively and committed roles Arab women play in varied geographic regions, at home and abroad. These recent writings assess how the interplay between individual, private, ethnic identity and the collective, public, global world of politics has impacted Arab women's rights. Examining Late Twentieth-century Autobiographical Writing By Arab Women Novelists, Poets, And Artists, This Anthology Explores The Ways In Which Arab Women Have Portrayed And Created Their Identities Within Differing Social Environments. Even As The Collection Dismantles Standard Notions Of Arab Female Subservience, The Works Presented Here Go Well Beyond The Confines Of Those Traditional Boundaries. The Book Explores The Many Routes Arab Women Writers Have Taken To Speak To Each Other, To Their Readers, And To The World At Large. Drawing From A Rich Body Of Literature, The Essays Collectively Attest To The Surprisingly Lively And Committed Roles Arab Women Play In Varied Geographic Regions, At Home And Abroad. These Recent Writings Assess How The Interplay Between Individual, Private, Ethnic Identity And The Collective, Public, Global World Of Politics Has Impacted Arab Women's Rights. Introduction, Contemporary Arab Women's Autobiographical Writings / Nawar Al-hassan Golley -- Passage Through The Harem : Historicizing A Western Obsession In Leila Ahmed's A Border Passage : From Cairo To America-- A Woman's Journey / Bernadette Andrea -- Dismembering The Gaze : Speleology And Vivisection In Assia Djebar's L'amour, La Fantasia / Karina Eileraas -- Yasmina, An Autodiegetic Character : Herstory And History / Benaouda Lebdai -- Poetic Geographies : Interracial Insurgency In Arab American Autobiographical Spaces / Keith Feldman -- Postnational Ethics, Postcolonial Politics : Raimonda Tawil's My Home, My Prison / Jamil Khader -- Muslim Woman Writes Back : Leila Abouzeid's Return To Childhood : The Memoir Of A Modern Moroccan Woman / Pauline Homsi Vinson -- Voices Across The Frontier : Fatima Mernissi's Dreams Of Trespass : Tales Of A Harem Girlhood / Filiz Turhan-swenson -- To Undo What The North Has Done : Fragments Of A Nation And Arab Collectivism In The Fiction Of Ahdaf Soueif / Mrinalini Chakravorty -- Weaving Poetic Autobiographies : Individual And Communal Identities In The Poetry Of Mohja Kahf And Suheir Hammad / Carol Fadda-conrey -- Arab Women Write The Trauma Of Imprisonment And Exile / Daphne M. Grace -- Journey Of Belonging : A Global(ized) Self Finds Peace / Nawar Al-hassan Golley And Ahmad Al-issa -- Art, Autobiography, And The Maternal Abject / Mireille Astore. Edited By Nawar Al-hassan Golley ; With A Foreword By Miriam Cooke. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 241-257) And Index.