GENDERED CONFLICTS AND THE HISTORICAL CONSTRUCTION OF MUSLIM WOMEN IN SHERINE HAFEZ’S BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS, WOMEN OF THE MIDAN AND AN ISLAM OF HER OWN

Abstract

Gender relations have been a central aspect of human history, shaping power dynamics, social structures and cultural norms. In many societies that privilege male authority, women have faced significant challenges and discrimination. This study explores the intricate relationship between gendered conflicts and the historical construction of the identity of Muslim women in Sherine Hafez’s Biographical memoirs, Women of the Midan (2018) and An Islam of her own (2011). The study was guided by four objectives: to account for the significance of the biographical memoirs as a literary form that analyses the strategies that Muslim women employ in asserting their agency in the face of gendered conflict, to identify the forms of gendered conflicts in Islamic society as presented in the selected biographical memoirs, to analyse the historical construction of Muslim women in different dominant discourses as revealed in the selected texts and finally, to examine the strategies Muslim women have used to assert their agency in the selected texts. The research utilized a qualitative research approach and a descriptive design, where a close reading and an in-depth analysis of the biographical memoirs was done to examine the ways in which the Muslim women retell their identity, challenge the oppressive systems, effect social change and assert their agency. Additionally, secondary sources such as scholarly articles and critical essays on gender studies were consulted to provide a broader theoretical perspective for the analysis. By employing an Islamic feminist literary analysis approach and transcultural life writing theory, the study aimed to uncover the nuanced ways in which Muslim women navigated and respond to gendered conflict; by analyzing how actively they were involved in various forms of activism, advocating for gender equality, social justice and political change, and the findings are that Biographical memoirs provide a powerful and essential platform for Muslim women to directly narrate their experiences, challenge Western centric and patriarchal narratives and reclaim agency in defining their identities through first-person accounts, fostering authenticity and connection with readers. While acknowledging the subjective nature of memory, these biographical memoirs authentically represent lived experiences and personal interpretations, crucial for understanding how Muslim women navigate their identities amidst gendered conflicts rooted in patriarchal expectations, gendered violence, and internalized beliefs within predominantly Islamic societies. Historically, these conflicts are fueled by colonial narratives and religious interpretations that constructed an inferior identity of Muslim women, which they actively combat by reinterpreting religious texts, building coalitions, and engaging in collective action to challenge inequality and assert their agency. This study has provided insights into the strategies employed by these women to navigate gendered conflicts and oppression offering valuable knowledge that can inform the ongoing gender and autonomy debates. These findings will contribute to the understanding of the complex relationship between gendered conflicts and the historical construction of Muslim women. Further, the research has highlighted the significance of Literature as a medium for exploring and amplifying silenced voices and in particular, voices of Muslim women.