Arab women in the family and society in the work of Egyptian female writer Nawal Al-Sa’adawi

Abstract

The gender situation in the Arab Middle East is a topic of crucial importance for understanding the social and familial dynamics of the region. In this context, studying the work of Egyptian author Nawal Al-Sa'adawi (1931-2021) offers a valuable perspective on the place, role, and rights of Arab Muslim women in family and society. Despite extensive literature on the female condition in the Arab world, there is a gap in integrating literary analysis with political activism and professional experience in mental health, as exemplified by Al-Sa'adawi's work. This study aims to examine Nawal Al-Sa'adawi's contribution to understanding and promoting Arab Muslim women's rights through her prolific literary, journalistic, and medical-psychological work. Key findings reveal that Al-Sa'adawi, a psychiatrist graduated from Cairo University and Columbia University, used her professional experience and political activism to address issues such as protecting women's rights and freedoms, combating gender-based violence, and promoting equality. Her work, translated into more than 30 languages, reflects her active participation in significant political events, including her imprisonment in 1981, her candidacy for the Egyptian presidency in 2005, and her presence in the 2011 Egyptian revolution. The implications of this study are significant for understanding the evolution of the feminist movement in the Arab world. Al-Sa'adawi's life and work demonstrate how the intersection of medicine, literature, and activism can be a powerful tool for social change and the promotion of women's rights in complex cultural contexts.

Keywords:

Arabic literature, Egyptian literature, Gender inequality, Feminism, Discrimination against women, Nawal Al-Sa’adawi.