Women’s Literature in Arabic (M23AR04DE)

Examine the history, themes, and contributions of Arab women writers and poets, with a focus on their role in shaping modern Arabic literature.

📖 Course Description:

This course highlights the role of women in Arabic literature, analyzing their contributions as novelists, poets, and thinkers across history and modern times. Students will explore the evolution of women’s writing in Arabic, from early Islamic writers to modern feminist voices, and understand the ways in which literature became a tool for women’s emancipation and social critique.

The course features in-depth study of prominent Arab women writers, including Mayy Ziyāda, Suhayr al-Qalamāwī, Nawal al-Sa‘dāwī, Ahlam Mustaghānamī, Radwa Ashour, Fatima al-Mernissi, Layla al-‘Uthman, Hoda Barakat, and others. Special attention is given to modern Arab women poets such as Nazik al-Malā’ika, Fadwa Tuqān, Jumana Haddad, and Amal Musa, as well as a close reading of selected texts.

By the end, learners will gain both a literary and socio-cultural understanding of Arab women’s literature and its impact on modern Arabic literary movements.

🎯 Learning Outcomes:

By completing this course, students will:

1. Understand women’s literature as a tool for emancipation.

2. Evaluate the distinctive features of Arab women’s writing.

3. Study the evolution of women’s writing in Arabic literature.

4. Assess the achievements and challenges of Arab women writers.

5. Analyze the social attitudes towards women as literary figures.