Arab Ladies and Stereotypes

Muslim ladies are usually subjected to a variety of stereotypes. From the’silly veiled women’ that is portrayed as an oppressed sufferer in need of a christ, to the notion that women who wear headscarves are unable to believe for themselves or do not have any ambition. These stereotypes are dangerous in their portrayal of a tradition, but also in the method that they deny the trailblazing work of women position types across the location. Whether it https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/01/18/afghanistan-taliban-deprive-women-livelihoods-identity is the first female mayor of a metropolis in Iraq or the many Muslim female lawmakers, these women are a clear concern to the tale that has been created that says Egyptian women are powerless and may take charge of their own lives.

Research conducted by George Gerbner, father of Cultivation Theory, shows that bad stereotypes are cultivated through repeated press representations. This is particularly true when it comes to the Arab media. During the coronavirus pandemic in 2019 for example, a large percentage of jokes circulated on social media sites reflected negatively about arab women. The’silly veiled female ‘ image was the most prominent one. Other negative images included women being illiterate, limited in intellectual capability, immoral, materialistic or opportunistic.

Dr Balaa highlights the importance of countering these stereotypes with positive portrayals of Arab women and how these are achieved in literature. She uses the example of Firdaus in Saadawi’s novel The Book of life where she lebanese girls for marriage is able to rebel against her rapist and show ‘ a different type of femininity.’ This is important as it illustrates that women can face multiple forms of oppression at the same time that are not solely related to their religion or their ethnicity as Arabs.