WGST 4150 - Gender Politics in the Middle East: Beyond Orientalism & Islamism

This course is about Middle Eastern women’s subjectivity and various forms of agency. It explores the nexus of domestic, regional and international forces that shapes the lives of Middle Eastern women, in particular in the Algerian, Egyptian, Iranian, Israeli and Palestinian contexts. Far from being silent observers of the contests among these forces, as is often assumed, Middle Eastern women have been active actors in the public arena since the 19th century colonial encounter and the importation of the modern state to the region using an array of means to make their voices heard. Theirs were often more militant than those of their countrymen. The course is divided into two parts. The first part provides an overview of the theoretical notions discussed such as Orientalism, agency, colonialism and post-colonialism. Related to this theoretical section is a historical overview that is necessary to the understanding of the contemporary conditions of Middle Eastern women and the continuities and changes between past and present. The second part covers pressing topics in the lives of Middle Eastern women in the post-independence era such as the rise of Political Islam, the global trend of democratization, war and occupation. The emphasis in this section is on women as active participants in the debates surrounding these issues, rather than as objects of them. The readings assigned include both texts written by scholars from the region and by others from without. They provide analyses of the contexts within which Middle Eastern women’s struggles take place. In addition, students will be exposed to materials produced by Middle Eastern women activists that express their own opinions and views in order to avoid misrepresentation and to reflect the diversity among them. Cross-listed with PSCI 4150. Max hours: 3 Credits. Semester Hours: 3 to 3