Tilburg University Gender and the writing of Yemeni women writers Al-Mutawakel, AMA

207 Pages·2017·3.98 MB·English

Tilburg University
Gender and the writing of Yemeni women writers
Al-Mutawakel, A.M.A.
Publication date:
2005
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Link to publication in Tilburg University Research Portal
Citation for published version (APA):
Al-Mutawakel, A. M. A. (2005). Gender and the writing of Yemeni women writers. Dutch University Press.
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BW FSW Al-Mutawakel 09-12-2004 12:05 Pagina 1
Gender and the Writing of Yemeni Women Writers
BW FSW Al-Mutawakel 09-12-2004 12:05 Pagina 2
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Gender and the Writing of
Yemeni Women Writers
proefschrift
ter verkrijging van de graad van doctor aan de Universiteit van Tilburg
op gezag van rector magnificus, prof.dr. F.A. van der Duyn Schouten,
in het openbaar te verdedigen ten overstaan van
een door het college voor promoties aangewezen commissie
in de aula van de Universiteit op woensdag 26 januari 2005 om 14.15 uur
door
antelak mohammed abdulmalek al-mutawakel
geboren op 1 december 1960 te Sana’a, Yemen
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Promotores:
Prof.dr. T.M. Willemsen
Prof.dr. M.J.H. Meijer
© Antelak Al-Mutawakel, 2005
Cover design:PuntSpatie, Amsterdam
DTP: Offsetdrukkerij Haveka bv, Alblasserdam
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which should be addressed to the publishers:
Dutch University Press
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Telefoon: + 31 (0) 20 625 54 29
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Dutch University Press in association
with Purdue University Press, West Lafayette,
Ind. U.S.A & Rozenberg Publishers,
The Netherlands
isbn90 3619 122 x
nur740
BW FSW Al-Mutawakel 09-12-2004 12:05 Pagina 5
Acknowledgments
First and foremost I would like to thank Prof. dr. Tineke M. Willemsen and Prof. dr.
Maaike Meijer, my supervisors, without whose guidance, help and encouragement I
would not have succeeded in completing this dissertation.
This study would not have possible without the support of many people who have
helped me at various stages of my dissertation. I feel that they have the right to share
part of my success. I thank the Yemeni women writers for providing me with all data
and information about themselves and their writings and allowing me to attend their
gatherings. I thank the poet and novelist Nabilah al-Zubair for her time, for her
frankness in narrating her life story, and for her acceptance of its publication in my
book. I owe special thanks to my tutors Dr. Hatem al-Saker, Prof. Harsharan Singh
Ahluwalia and Manorama Trikha.
Special thanks to Dr. Raufah Hassan – the Chairperson of the Empirical Research
and Women's Studies Center – for her support, encouragement and her great belief
in women's power and rights. I also thank Prof. D. Thakur – the Chairperson of the
English Department – who has been of a great support through my study for the MA
or the PhD.
I owe thanks to my father who provided me with references, information and advi-
ce through out my work and to my friends Rawiya al-Kumaim, Kathleene Hindle and
Afke Bordat for proof-reading my drafts and to Ingrid Beerens for providing me with
recent references throughout my research. Many thanks to the friendly support of
Prof. Margot Badran and Ms. Amany Roy.
I must thank my friends who made my visits to Holland cheerful: Sabria, Alkeline,
Robert, Marloes, Annelies, Martina, Mr. and Mrs. Meerburg, and Mr. and Mrs.
Brouwer.
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This study was made possible by the grants from the Netherlands Embassy in Sana'a
and the cooperation of Nuffic and Tilburg University whom I should thank. I appre-
ciate the kindness and helpfulness of people in charge: Ms. Joke Buringa, Nuha
`Aqlan, Ms. Irma van Dueren, Mr. John Pracht, drs. Robbie Servais, Mariette Rozen
and many others.
At the end I'm greatly indebted to my two families: my Dutch family Miss and Mrs.
Beerens and my Yemeni family: my husband, my parents, my children, my sisters
and my brother.
december 2004
antelak mohammed abdulmalek al-mutawakel
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Contents
Preface 11
Chapter 1 Introduction: Yemeni Women's Historical Background 13
The Situation of Women in Yemen 13
Concise Historical Overview 13
Developments in Legislation 18
Women and Education 20
Women and Decision-Making 21
Women and the Economy 22
Conclusion 23
Chapter 2 Theoretical Background and Framework 25
Introduction 25
The concept of gender 25
The concept of gender in the Arab World 29
Gender in Yemen 31
Feminism and Its Debates 32
A Room of One's Own and Literary Criticism 35
The Approach of A Room of One's Own 38
Chapter 3 The history of Poetry, the short story, and the novel 51
Women Poets and Literary History Books 51
Overview of Women's Poetry 56
The Pre-Islamic Period 56
The Islamic Period 56
The Renaissance & Revolutionary Period 61
The Post-Revolution Period 62
Contemporary Poetry 66
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Yemeni Literary History Books and Women Short Story Writers 73
Historical Overview of Women's Short stories 75
Justice 81
Transformation 81
Yemeni Women Novelists and Literary History books about Novels 82
A Historical Review of Yemeni Women's Novels 83
Conclusion 92
Chapter 4 Self-Liberation and National Struggle in Early Yemeni Women’s
Short Stories 93
Contexts, Conventions, and Conditions; Gender and literary
Production 93
Liberating the Self through Story-Telling 95
Southern Writers 95
Northern Writers 98
Telling Stories of Gender and National Liberation 100
Southern Writers 101
Northern Writers 104
Conclusion 106
Chapter 5 Gender and the Process of Writing 107
Introduction 107
Education and Work 114
Genre and Gender 116
Literary Identity 116
Constraints during the Process of Writing 122
Family 122
Self-Censorship 126
Political Censorship 127
Segregation 128
Publishing 130
Literary Criticism 131
Conclusion 132
Appendix to Chapter 5 136
Chapter 6 A Woman Writer’s Life Story: Nabilah al-Zubair 137
Nabilah al-Zubair as a Child and a Young Wife 138
Nabilah al-Zubair, the Young poet 141
Building Relationships with Male Colleagues 143
Nabilah al-Zubair as a Well-Known Poet and the Current Literary
Environment 143
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Nabilah al-Zubair's Second Marriage 145
Nabilah al-Zubair and Politics, Cultural Life and Gender 147
Nabilah al-Zubair’s Writings 148
Nabilah al-Zubair and Literary Women's Gathering (Louqa) 151
Chapter 7 Conclusions and Implications 153
Appendix 1 Bibliography and Biographical Sketches of Yemeni Women Writers 163
Appendix 2 Transliteration Note 189
Summary 191
Samenvatting 197
Arabic Summary 203