In this episode, we will be diving into the various representations of feminism that exist in our world today, from the West all the way across to the Middle East. Beginning with a brief overview of the most popular Western liberal conception of feminism, we discuss why this perspective may not necessarily align with the goals of the Arab women in modern society. Drawing inspiration from historical discourses by Lila Abu-Lughod, Zakia Salime and Valentine Moghadam, this episode will consider two specific interpretations of feminism in Islamic cultures to determine the benefits and downfalls of each. By the end of the episode, we hope to have gained slightly more insight about how to steer feminism in Arab societies today such that it inspires a culture of women empowerment.
I am honoured to share this space with Sabile Haiti, a marketing professional currently working for an international health insurance provider based in Dubai.