Author Description

In this critical study of the works of six Egyptian writers (three women and three men), Nadje Sadig Al-Ali analyzes their representations of women to determine to what extent these writers exhibit a gender ideology and to examine the reflection of wider discourses that are linked to the particular depiction of gender. The analysis reveals that some writers display a generally accepted gender ideology, while others criticize the prevailing notions about men and women. However, there are clear distinctions between the women's and the men's writings that indicate the significance of gender in regard to the writing process itself. The six authors - Nawal al-Saadawi, Alifa Rifaat, Salwa Bakr, Sherif Hetata, Sonallah Ibrahim, and Soleiman Fayyad - also speak for themselves in interviews that deal with their motivation to write, their idea of the role of literature in society, the meaning they attach to their own literary works, and their attitude to the position and roles of women in Egyptian society.