The Future Is Feminist: Women and Social Change in Interwar Algeria

The Future Is Feminist by Sara Rahnama examines how Algerians used feminism as a way to escape the constraints of French colonial rule and reorder the world on their terms. It draws inspiration from Middle Eastern women's rights movements and compares them to the limited opportunities available to Algerian women. The book also highlights the role of local dynamics, such as the entry of thousands of Algerian women into the workforce as domestic workers in European settler homes.

Format: Hardback
Length: 252 pages
Publication date: 15 December 2023
Publisher: Cornell University Press

The Future Is Feminist, written by Sara Rahnama, delves into a significant period in Algerian history when the people sought feminism as a means of escape from the oppressive realities of French colonial rule. During this time, Algerians directed their attention outward, critically examining their society and reevaluating Islamic tradition with fresh perspectives. Their goal was to reimagine the world on their terms, challenging French colonial assertions about Islam's inherent misogyny.

Rahnama vividly portrays how Algerians drew inspiration from the advancements in women's rights observed in the Middle East. Fueled by the Muslim reform movement sweeping the region, they approached Islamic knowledge with renewed scrutiny, even referring to Muhammad as the first Arab feminist. They compared the flourishing women's rights movements across the Middle East to the constrained position of Algerian women, who faced limited access to education and respectable employment opportunities. Local dynamics also played a role in these discussions, particularly the influx of thousands of Algerian women into the workforce as domestic workers in European settler homes.

While Algerians had differing opinions on whether Algeria's future should be colonial or independent, they collectively believed that the advancement of women would pave the way for Muslim society to achieve a more prosperous future. The Future Is Feminist, by utilizing Arabic-language sources alongside French ones, transcends Algeria's colonial relationship with France to shed light on its complex relationship with the Middle East.

Weight: 907g
Dimension: 229 x 152 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781501772993