Women of the Middle East: Representations and Perceptions

This course examines images of Middle Eastern women and their reception in the Middle East and the West. Through an exploration of notable women such as Cleopatra, Mary mother of Jesus and the Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum, we address how political and social issues have been and are played out upon women. Our knowledge of real Middle Eastern female role models is expanded by discussion of women such as the pharaoh Hatshepsut, neo-Platonist philosopher and mathematician Hypatia, poetess Rabia’ the Mystic, Queen Helena of Adiabene and Egyptian feminist Hudá Sha ra wi ,.