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Gender
#resistankara: Notes of a Woman Resisting
![[Image via bianet.org]](/content_images/3/sm_ankara_kadin.jpg "[Image via bianet.org]")
Thousands of women filled the streets and squares in Ankara and took them back: spraying anti-teargas solutions in someone’s eyes, picking up the trash, advising people not to use swear words, but still talking, screaming, not keeping silent, swallowing, and walking, and walking again. The Gezi Park protests can be, and are being, analyzed in multiple ways. Meanwhile, on its nineteenth day as this piece is being written, the protests and the solidarity of the protestors continue to advocate for a life in which resisting and acting with creativity and humor transform human existence. Women of different generations and walks of life have participated in this resistance ...
Keep Reading »The Body as a Site of Contest: Sherene Seikaly on the Gendered Exercise of Power and Resistance
![[At Qasr al-Nil. Image by Sherene Seikaly]](/content_images/3/sm_qasral-nil.jpg "[At Qasr al-Nil. Image by Sherene Seikaly]")
How is the body produced as a site of repression and resistence? Sherene Seikaly, Co-Editor at Jadaliyya, as well as Assistant Professor of History and Director of the Middle East Studies Center at the American University of Cairo, tackles this question by exploring the ways in which the Egyptian state's production of the body as a terrorized and passive political subject inspired people to take their lives into their own hands and revolt. The state's theatrics of domination reveal a deep and sinister hatred of the Egyptian people as a collective body and as individual bodies. Both men and women are subject to various types of brutality, the “mundane,” scripted as ...
Keep Reading »Egyptian Women: Between Revolution, Counter-Revolution, Orientalism, and "Authenticity"
![[Samira Ibrahim versus Aliaa El-Mahdi. Photo by Suzeeinthecity]](/content_images/3/sm_samiraibrahimvsaliaaelmahdi.jpg "[Samira Ibrahim versus Aliaa El-Mahdi. Photo by Suzeeinthecity]")
The Egyptian revolution appears to present a “gender paradox.” On the one hand, women have been marginalized in many formal political institutions since the downfall of Hosni Mubarak. On the other hand, representations and images of women and women’s bodies have been ubiquitous. Representations of women through media and art, as well as the regulation of women’s sexuality through state laws and constitutions are an essential part of defining national identity and national difference, marking the boundaries between “them” and “us” and constituting the national polity. Representations of women and particular gender orders are also used as symbolic markers to ...
Keep Reading »العقاب الجنسي في الفولكلور
![[اللوحة من أعمال الفنان العراقي طالب العلاق]](/content_images/3/sm_talib.jpg "[اللوحة من أعمال الفنان العراقي طالب العلاق]")
لقَدْ عَزا الإنسانُ مُنْذُ القِدَمِ أسْبابَ الإصابةَ بالعللِ والأَمْراضِ والأزماتِ والنَّكَبات الشخصية إلى تَعَدّي الحُدُود الأخلاقية. فَحِينَ يُصابُ أحدٌ بآفة مَرَضيةٍ ما، أوْ يضطربُ سلوكُه أوْ نشاطُهُ أوْ يتعرّض لأية مِحْنَة مِنْ مِحَنِ الحياة يَتمّ تشخيص أوْ تعليل ما حَدَثَ على أنّه جَزاءٌ وفاقٌ لفعلٍ لا يُجوزُ قامَ به، أوْ فِعْلٍ يتوجّبُ لمْ يقمْ به. بِعِبارةٍ أخْرى أنّ ما أصابهُ مِنْ عِلّةٍ أوْ مَرض لَيْسَ إلا جريرة جرّها على نفسه نتيجة تعدّيه نُظُم الأخلاق والأعراف الإجتماعية التي تحْرصُ المَجْمُوعة على الإلتزام بها(2). ينطوي مَبْدَأ الكَرْما(karma) هذا، حيثُ قَدَرُ المَرْء فِي الحياةِ تحدده وتفرضه أعماله(3)، على ترغيبٍ وترهيبٍ ويشيعُ فِي ثقافات مختلفةٍ وقَدْ ...
Keep Reading »Women Under Seige: Stateless in Lebanon
![[Yousra with her sons, Ali and Hani. Hani’s father is Jordanian, while Ali’s father is Lebanese. Yoursa has been divorced twice. Hani has no nationality and cannot go to public school. Photo by Linda Dorigo.]](/content_images/3/sm_WomenUnderSeige_Yousra_small.jpg "[Yousra with her sons, Ali and Hani. Hani’s father is Jordanian, while Ali’s father is Lebanese. Yoursa has been divorced twice. Hani has no nationality and cannot go to public school. Photo by Linda Dorigo.]")
Lebanon, and its capital Beirut, are often represented by the media as islands of freedom in the Middle East. The well-heeled neighborhoods of Achrafieh and Downtown are reminiscent of a Parisian boutique; while nightlife in Gemmayze and Hamra could compete with the scene in Berlin. But, behind the glossy images of ultra-futuristic skyscrapers and flawless female bodies, Lebanon is a country where women are not allowed to pass citizenship on to their children, or to their non-Lebanese husbands. The consequence of this lack of legal status is a lack of social rights. The children of a Lebanese woman who is married to a non-Lebanese man are not legally considered Lebanese ...
Keep Reading »حورية المطلقة في سن الثالثة عشرة لا تنفع إلا لقراءة كتب الاطفال
![[الطفلة اليمنية نجود محمد التي تم تزويجها في الثامنة من عمرها في عام ٢٠٠٨]](/content_images/3/sm_yemenigirl.jpg "[الطفلة اليمنية نجود محمد التي تم تزويجها في الثامنة من عمرها في عام ٢٠٠٨]")
رأيتها في بيت إحدى صديقاتي ، كانت تجلس في زاوية «الديوان» كما نسميه في اليمن. تنظر إلي وتبتسم إبتسامة خجولة. كل ماعرفته عنها أنها إبنة عم صديقتي: فتاه صغيرة تبدو في الإعدادي. لم تتفوه بكلمة طوال الجلسة. لم أعرف عنها شيئاً غير أنها ابنة عم صديقتي. مرت أيام وشهور. لما سألت عنه حورية، قالت لي صديقتي إن ابنة عمها تطلقت. سألتها عن السبب فحكت لي حكاية حورية: حورية فتاة يتيمة في الثالثة عشرة من العمر تعيش في بيت أخيها مع أمها العجوز وزوجة أخيها وأولادهما في منطقة متواضعة يغلب عليها الفقر. لم تكمل دراستها. منعها أخوها من الذهاب للمدرسة بعد الصف الخامس بحجة أنه ليس هناك من يرافقها للمدرسة ومع أن لديها رفيقات ولكنه لم يكن يثق بأحد وليس لديه الوقت ليرافقها بنفسه. وربما كان ...
Keep Reading »الخوف والغضب: المرأة وعنف ما بعد الثورة
![[الصورة: ديموتيكس. نساء يتظاهرن ضد الاغتصاب في تونس]](/content_images/3/sm_tunisdenizart.jpg "[الصورة: ديموتيكس. نساء يتظاهرن ضد الاغتصاب في تونس]")
أحد الملاحظات التي لا يمكن إغفالها أثناء انتفاضات ‘الربيع العربي’ في مصر وتونس أتت من النساء اللواتي ادعين أنهن شعرن أخيراً بالأمان في الأماكن العامة في مجتمعات سِجلّها من التحرش الجنسي ضد المرأة يدفع المرء لتمني الكثير من التحسن. إن اندماج المواطنين وتعبئتهم – الشاب والمسن، محجبات وغير محجبات، ذكر وأنثى، مسلم ومسيحي- في جبهة مدنية تطالب بحقوقها سيبقى صورة مثيرة – في حال زوالها بسرعة – للأحداث التي قادت لخلع أنظمة مبارك وبن علي. منذ ذلك الوقت، شاهدنا طوفاناً من الصور والمواد الإخبارية والتعليقات فيما يخص أعمال عنف ضد المرأة في الأماكن العامة. ولم نجد – إلى الآن– تفسيراً ملائماً لهذه الظواهر، ولا نقاشات سوية حول معانيها وتبعاتها. يبدو الأمر بأن سلخ قشور طبقات ...
Keep Reading »تودد أو الثورة التي لا تؤنث لا يعول عليها : الجزء الثالث: التأنيث في الشعر ثورة
[ هذه المقالة هي الثالثة في سلسلة مقالات. يمكن قراءة الجزء الأول هنا والجزء الثاني هنا] إنَّ القصيدة رَمْيَةُ نَرْدٍ علي رُقْعَةٍ من ظلامْ تشعُّ، وقد لا تشعُّ فيهوي الكلامْ كريش على الرملِ / لا دَوْرَ لي في القصيدة غيرُ امتثالي لإيقاعها : حركاتِ الأحاسيس حسّاً يعدِّل حساً وحَدْساً يُنَزِّلُ معني وغيبوبة في صدي الكلمات وصورة نفسي التي انتقلت من أَنايَ إلى غيرها واعتمادي على نَفَسِي وحنيني إلى النبعِ / لا دور لي في القصيدة إلاَّ إذا انقطع الوحيُ والوحيُ حظُّ المهارة إذ تجتهدْ م.درويش – لاعب النرد إذا كانت "أعظم خيانة يرتكبها الكاتب أن يصوغ الحقيقة الصعبة في عبارة رخيصة"فـ"الشاعر مأخوذ بكل علم ... لاتساع الشعر ...
Keep Reading »تودّد، أو الثورة التي لا تؤنّث لا يعوّل عليها: الجزء الثاني
![[فتاتان تكتبان شعارات على الجدران في القاهرة]](/content_images/3/sm_تودد.jpg "[فتاتان تكتبان شعارات على الجدران في القاهرة]")
[هذه المقالة هي الثانية في سلسلة مقالات. يمكن قراءة الجزء الأول هنا] "تدور ريتا حول ريتا وحدها: لا أرض للجسدين في جسد، ولا منفى لمنفى إلا الوطن في هذه الغرف الصغيرة، والخروج هو الدخول عبثاً نغني بين هاويتين، فلنرحل... ليتضح السبيل لا أستطيع، ولا أنا، كانت تقول ولا تقول" (محمود درويش، أحد عشر كوكباً) لعلَّ شهرزاد في سردها الليلي الألف ويزيد بليلة، تؤرخ ماللحكي الأنثوي من فضاء في الثقافة العربية سابقاً ولاحقاً، هو فضاء يتحدد بعنصرين: الضوء. المكان. فشهرزاد لم يصلنا منها الحكي نهاراً، فصياح الديك بما يحمل من دلالات الفجر، هو مبتدأ سكوتها وتحول حكيها "المباح" إلى "حرام" يستوجب الصمت، والنهار هو ملك "الذكر"، لا تنكشف فيه ...
Keep Reading »"تودّد" أو "الثورة التي لا تؤنّث لا يعوّل عليها"
على امتداد أربعٍ وثمانين ليلة من ليلة وألف ليلة، في ظلال الحكي الشهرزادي (الأنثوي) في أبهة الحضور الذكوري لشهريارالثقافة/السلطة/الذكر (وكما سيتضح تباعاً الذكر/اللغة)، في حضور السطوة "المسرورة" للسيف المذكر أيضاً، وعلى ركام إناثٍ/حكيٍ سابقٍ على شهرزاد، ظلت تلك القّاصّة، تسرد على مسامع الأمير قصة الجارية "تودد" ، متخذة من إنتصاراتها السردية، حماية لها من بطش السيف الأميري الـ"مسرور"، مراكمة الليالي سردية فوق سردية ، مؤسسة لتأنيث السرد الحكائي ألفاً من اليالي وليلة، لا قبلاً ولا بعداً، في ظرف ثقافي دائم الإنتصار للذكورة. أما "تودد"، التي دفعت الموت عن شهرزاد كل تلك الليالي الـ84 من الألف وواحدة، فقد كانت جارية لشاب يدعى "أبو ...
Keep Reading »New Texts Out Now: Sally K. Gallagher, Making Do in Damascus
Sally K. Gallagher, Making Do in Damascus: Navigating a Generation of Change in Family and Work. Syracuse: Syracuse University Press, 2012. Jadaliyya (J): What made you write this book? Sally Gallagher (SG): I have had a long interest in gender and economic development, and had the opportunity to begin a study of the effects of participating in an income-generating project for women in Damascus just as it was getting started. This was a really great opportunity to watch change in the making, rather than go in after the fact and ask people: how is your life different? Slowly I was able to begin building contacts among networks of women across social classes, and was ...
Keep Reading »The Gendered Body Public: Egypt, Sexual Violence and Revolution
![[Women March to Tahrir; Image by Gigi Ibrahim]](/content_images/3/sm_cairowomengigi.jpg "[Women March to Tahrir; Image by Gigi Ibrahim]")
We must acknowledge, sit with, and address the sexual violence that has, is, and will occur in and around Tahrir Square. How do we do this work in a responsible and ethical manner that is in solidarity with Egypt's ongoing (and multiple) revolutions? How do we retain and respect political, economic, and social complexity in the face of the horrors of mass and public sexual assault? How to write when all you want to do is shout? Friday, 25 January 2013 was the second anniversary of the outbreak of the Egyptian revolution. Today the revolution continues, as protesters face down government allies and troops across Egypt. Bodies are bruised, bloodied, and killed. Rocks ...
Keep Reading »Call for Papers -- Transgressing the Gulf: Dissidence, Resistance, and Potentiality in the GCC States (9-10 September, Exeter)
Transgressing the Gulf: Dissidence, Resistance, and Potentiality in the GCC States 9-10 September 2013 University of Exeter A two-day symposium sponsored by the Centre for Gulf Studies at the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, University of Exeter, 9-10 September 2013. What do we talk of, when we speak of "transgression" in the Gulf today? Are ideas of dissidence, dissonance and difference most easily cast in the light of the events of the Arab Spring and political transformations in ...
Keep Reading »Women's Rights in the Egyptian Constitution: (Neo)Liberalism's Family Values
“Woman and the constitution: Fear of woman’s marginalization rules over all” blared an April 2012 headline in al-Ahram, joining other protests over the role of women in Egypt’s new constitution. Organizations (“EgyptSoft”) sprang up, with articles and posts about how “the Egyptian woman screams in the face of the constitution of discrimination.” Fear reigned about how the post-revolutionary Islamist government would approach women’s rights, with many women’s organizations striking a defensive posture. ...
Keep Reading »Thinking Citizenship in a Revolutionary Arab World: The Intransigence of Difference
The ongoing Arab uprisings that began in Tunisia in late 2010 have demonstrated that citizenship in the Arab Middle East is a subject in need of much critical scholarship and intervention. Many scholars, working from an archive of political philosophy that begins with Rousseau's social contract, have assessed the Arab national project of producing citizens skeptically, as Suad Joseph has demonstrated. Moreover, there is tendency in political theory to view members of authoritarian, corporatist, and ...
Keep Reading »Settler Colonialism and Alliance: Comparative Challenges to Pinkwashing and Homonationalism
Critics of Israeli pinkwashing in the United States and Canada have increasingly engaged in comparative critiques of settler colonialism. Queers Against Israeli Apartheid in Toronto has invoked this critique for many years. Pinkwatchers across Canada also draw ties between Palestinian and Indigenous solidarity that are heightened by the recent emergence in Canada of the Indigenous people’s movement Idle No More. Today, scholars and activists ask how homonationalism and pinkwashing perform settler ...
Keep Reading »NEWTON in Focus: Thinking Through Gender and Sex
This week we highlight various NEWTON texts relevant to the study of gender and sexuality. The authors of these texts write from a wide range of perspectives, approaching questions relevant to the MENA region from a variety of cultural and political contexts and (inter)disciplinary approaches. We encourage you to integrate these texts into your curricula in the coming semesters. If you wish to recommend a book or peer-reviewed article for a feature in NEWTON—on any topic relevant to the ...
Keep Reading »Statement Supporting Topless Tunisian Feminist
[The following statement was published by FEMEN on 22 March 2013.] 19 year old Tunisian Amina who posted a topless photo of herself bearing the slogan “my body belongs to me, and is not the source of anyone’s honour” has been threatened with death. Islamist cleric Adel Almi, president of Al-Jamia Al-Li-Wassatia Tawia Wal-Islah, has called for Amina’s flogging and stoning to death saying Amina’s actions will bring misfortune by causing “epidemics and disasters” and “could ...
Keep Reading »الثورة أنثى
شاركت المرأة العربية في الثورات العربية على مدى السنتين الماضيتين باشكال وادوار مختلفة. ومع ذلك، يطل عيدها وسط محاولات حثيثة لاعادتها إلى البيت وإلى «بيت الطاعة» معما يرافق ذلك من استخدام للتشريعات وللممارسات الاجتماعية ضدها. كل ما يرمي إلى الارتداد على الدولة المدنية يصيب المرأة. وهذا الارتداد يتجلى على أنه الدأب المركزي للحركات الإسلامية في السلطة أو خارجها. فتعميم قوانين الاحوال الشخصية الشرعية والمذهبية يكرّس ويعمم التمييز ضد النساء في الحقوق والاحوال الشخصية (في الإسلام والمسيحية معاً). ...
Keep Reading »The Empire of Sexuality: An Interview with Joseph Massad
Félix Boggio Éwanjé-Épée and Stella Magliani-Belkacem (FE&SM): In your work and your academic interventions, you have argued that the imposition of the categories of homo-hetero on the non-Western world is inseparable from the politics of imperialism and the dominance of the capitalist mode of production. Can you describe this process? Joseph Massad (JM): The difficulty of speaking about a particular term like sexuality is on account of the ongoing Euro-American efforts to universalize it, and that ...
Keep Reading »Sexual Violence Against Women and the Increasing Frequency of Gang Rape in Tahrir Square and its Environs
[The following position paper was issued by Nazra for Feminist Studies on 4 February 2013.] Sexual Violence Against Women and the Increasing Frequency of Gang Rape in Tahrir Square and its Environs With this paper, Nazra for Feminist Studies offers a feminist theoretical attempt to understand the rise of sexual violence against women over the past few months. We believe that it is important to raise this issue so that different political actors, even well intentioned ones, do not ...
Keep Reading »Positioning Gender Fluidity in Francophone Maghrebi Literature
The journey of self-discovery is a recurring theme in Francophone Maghrebi literature and film. Authors and directors place characters in a struggle against forces in both French and Maghrebi society, evoking various themes through which characters define themselves. While these characters embark on different paths in terms of their search for self-discovery, they prove that identities are not rigid. A multitude of factors contribute to the formation of these identities, illustrating a fluidity that ...
Keep Reading »This Is A Mass Sexual Assault . . . We Will Resist (Video)
The following video was produced by Operation Anti-Sexual Harassment/Assault. It shows a public and mass sexual attack on a female protestor in Tahrir Square and the efforts to ensure her safety. The footage was edited to highlight exactly what is happening in the moving crush of bodies caught on video. It shows several men publically raping a protestor, with several other men pressing in to partake in the assault. This is not the first time a woman is sexually assaulted during a protest in ...
Keep Reading »The Meaning of Revolution: On Samira Ibrahim
At that thin membrane, the hymen, narratives unfold and lives are determined. There, the binaries of the clean and the stained, the righteous and the debauched, the honorable and the shamed flourish. There the blurry border between the civilized and the backward, the liberated and the oppressed, the East and the West, pretends to lie. There the claims to flesh as an evidentiary terrain stand. For the last year and a half, one woman has chipped away at this edifice erected on her hymen. The task is ...
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Said’s legacy is one that insists on the necessity of solidarity, and of linking up various forms of struggle. But it is also one that deepens our understanding of solidarity by noting that solidarity and criticism, sometimes taken to be opposites, are in fact closely linked...click | email | tweet
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