Life Writing by Kuwaiti Women: Voice and Agency

Life narratives are rare in the Gulf region due to many issues. Kuwait women’s writing about their lives, bodies, illnesses, and disabilities is almost unheard of. This article considers two texts by contemporary Kuwaiti women and situates their illness narratives within Kuwait’s social context. By...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Shahd Alshammari
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The International Academic Forum 2022-09-01
Series:IAFOR Journal of Cultural Studies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://iafor.org/journal/iafor-journal-of-cultural-studies/volume-7-issue-1/article-4/
Description
Summary:Life narratives are rare in the Gulf region due to many issues. Kuwait women’s writing about their lives, bodies, illnesses, and disabilities is almost unheard of. This article considers two texts by contemporary Kuwaiti women and situates their illness narratives within Kuwait’s social context. By writing about their illness and disability, the authors re-claim their voice and agency, writing their silenced bodies as Helene Cixous urges women to write through Écriture feminine. This article examines two texts from a comparative perspective, highlighting themes of disability, mental illness, and healing through writing.
ISSN:2187-4905