Exploring Arab Women :: Arab Culture Cultural Marriage Essays

Exploring Arab Women In Liyana Badrs novel, A Balcony over the Fakihani, the reader witnesses Yusras experience with water as she proclaims that, Ill shell stay till Ive shes filled my her jerry can even if I she dies doing it (Badr, 10) opus Maha the main female character in Fadia Faqirs Pillars of Salt, and her preserve immersed our their bodies in the warm water, (Faqir, 54) of the Dead Sea as they share their archetypical love making experience. Yasmina teaches granddaughter Fatima of the liberating power of water in Fatima Mernissis melodic coming of age account of harem disembodied spirit in Dreams of Trespass. spot Asya, the primary female character in Ahdaf Soueifs In the centerfield of the Sun, jet sets between the pools of the posh and exclusive Cairo country clubs and spend cruises in the Mediterranean. Yet, Leila Al-Atrashs female character Nadia only mentions water in passing as she showers to avoid the presence of her husband. While matchless muliebrity is des perate for a drop of water and willing to risk her life to achieve it, others use it as a vehicle to outsmart a dominating first wife, while another fully engages with water in the convenience of her home. This variation in the Authors usage and need water reflects the great diversity in the identity of the Arab woman . In the five literary works Pillars of Salt by Fadia Faqir, A Woman of Five Seasons by Leila Al-Atrash, A Balcony Over the Fakihani by Liyana Badr, Dreams of Trespass by Fatima Mernissi, and In the spunk of the Sun by Ahdaf Soueif, water can mean unlike things to different people and these differing views of water reflect the diversity of class, societal expectations, education and socio-economic precondition that exists in Arab women. Therefore, these authors are establishing a multi-faceted view of Arab women, and contest the reader to set aside their own social constructions and stereotypes about the Arab woman. In an effort to organize and disaggregate the r iches of experience and knowledge relayed through these novels this discourse ic compiled to consider the avocation what is the historical image and portrayal of Arab women? How do the images represented by these authors challenge this historical image? What are the implications of a singular image of Arab women? What lessons does one learn from the multi-dimensional view of Arab women in relation to Western feminism?