The word a�?feminista�? is being more and more associated with queer women, lesbians to be specific. And, what are lesbians known for? Answer: Hating men. So somewhere along the history of feminism, this link has been created and it has become hard to break this line of stereotypical thoughts. In all feminist movements women are […]
Category Archives: Gender Studies
De la déconstruction à l'interpénétration: mon approche conceptuelle
Désigné par Rachid Benzine comme un des « nouveaux penseurs de l’Islam», Mohammad Arkoun était professeur émérite d’histoire de la pensée islamique à la Sorbonne (Paris-III) et directeur de la revue Arabica. Il faisait partie d’une mouvance d’érudits engagés depuis les années 60-70 à remettre en question la cristallisation de plusieurs types de discours (théologie, jurisprudence, exégèse…) de la […]
Women's Brains versus Men's Brains?
Biological deterministic approaches teach us about the differences between a woman’s brain and a man’s brain. However, new extensive researches in Neuroscience prove that major differences exist between individuals’ brains. “Brain plasticity” is the key concept to explore. It refers to the capacity of the nervous system to change its structure and, its function over a lifetime, […]
Womanhood in Western Asia: A Journey to the Past
“In the nineteenth century, the central moral challenge was slavery. In the twentieth century, it was the battle against totalitarianism. We believe that in this century the paramount moral challenge will be the struggle for gender equality around the world” (Nicholas D. Kristof, in Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide). In […]
What do I mean by Equality between Men and Women?
There are many challenges to be faced and overcome when living in Lebanon, including trying to answer questions that are not asked anymore in other societies, such as: ‘Is Feminism a movement of angry Lesbian women wanting to destroy men’s supremacy?’ or ‘Why are you fighting for equality? And what is equality anyways?’, ‘Isn’t it […]
The Lilith Myth and the Male Fear of Dominant/Equal Women
Following an interesting post by one of Red Lips High Heels authors, Night Shadow, I found a quite interesting analysis of the ‘Lilith Myth’, comparing it to the stories of Adam and Eve, and linking it to a patriarchal husband, a weak submissive wife, and a vindictive dominating ex-wife, while portraying the Male Fear of […]
A University Workshop on Gender Stereotypes and Women’s Situations in the Middle East
I organized yesterday afternoon a group workshop involving my students at the Holy Spirit University (USEK, Lebanon) on gender stereotypes and women’s situations in the Middle East. First-of-its-kind activity in the Faculty of Theology and in the university! Here are the results: 1- Defining Gender Stereotypes ( Target Group: Women): – Women don’t know how […]
Women, Shari'a, and Personal Status Law Reform in Egypt after the Revolution
Recommending the following analysis by Camilo Gómez-Rivas | Assistant Professor of Middle Eastern history – The American University in Cairo. Like almost everything else during the uncertain period of the transitional government, the future of personal status law reform is at a crossroads in Egypt. The new constitution (assuming one will exist)[1] may technically have […]
The Revolution of a Scorned Woman
a�?Heaven knows no rage like love to hatred turned, nor hell a fury like a woman scorned.a�? – William Congreve Centuries ago and still up to this day, women are viewed as emotional beings that could explode any moment. And worst yet, they are seen as creatures whose moods can shift from one end to […]
Women in the Middle East: Progress or Regress?
Standard literature on topics like social change, revolutions, modernization, cultural challenges and social movements in the Middle East, does not often examine women or gender issues. Myths and stereotypes abound regarding women. The events of September 11, 2001 have only compounded them. Unfortunately, Globalization, new technologies, cross-cultural relations – both convivial and conflictual – and […]