Rebel Feminists: A Comparative Analysis of Patriarchy and Resistance in A Daughter of Isis and Dreams of Trespass

Abstract

This article examines the portrayal of patriarchal systems and forms of resistance within Nawal Saadawi’s A Daughter of Isis: The Early Life of Nawal El Saadawi and Fatima Mernissi’s Dreams of Trespass: Tales of a Harem Girlhood. That is, the study navigates through the narratives, characters, and socio-cultural contexts that are depicted in both literary works while using an analytical approach. It starts with examining the influence of patriarchal structures on women’s lives, identities, and agency. By doing so, the article explores the forms and shapes of patriarchy that result in creating gender inequality. Moreover, the research sheds light on the various acts of resistance that are adopted by several characters to challenge and fight patriarchal constraints. In other words, this article explores the extent to which a multiplicity of characters fight against the oppressive system of patriarchy through various acts and behaviours. This means that the study sheds light on the enduring struggle for women’s rights and liberation in Arab societies. By examining two literary works from two different countries, the present study examines the similarities and differences between them to evaluate the extent to which Arab women are considered a homogenous group that experiences the same forms of oppression.