The Politics of Engaged Gender Research in the Arab Region: Feminist Fieldwork and the Production of Knowledge

Critical analysis of what we know - and do not know – about women in the Arab region is needed to support social change. The book examines the specific structural conditions that shape peoples lives in the Arab region, from the effects of imperialism, settler colonialism, and the neo-liberalization of economies, to racial capitalism, securitization, and embedded patriarchal ideologies and structures. It argues that an engaged gender research - which is feminist and critically analyses the historical, political, economic, and social contexts of the research topic first - will transform how we understand women and gender, and the Arab World.

Format: Hardback
Length: 232 pages
Publication date: 25 August 2022
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

The Arab region requires a thorough analysis of what is known and unknown about women to promote social change. However, the production of knowledge on women and gender in the region is a complex process that is influenced by various factors. This essay aims to explore how knowledge on women and gender is produced in the Arab world, particularly through the perspectives of Arab women researchers.

The contributors to the volume, who are Arab women researchers themselves, provide valuable insights into this topic. The book examines the specific structural conditions that shape the lives of individuals in the Arab region, including the impacts of imperialism, settler colonialism, neo-liberalization of economies, racial capitalism, securitization, and embedded patriarchal ideologies and structures. The authors assess the implications of these different dynamics on the conduct of research and also examine their own daily lives, the lives of their interlocutors, and the practices of their field.

By engaging in this critical examination of local fieldwork experiences, the authors are able to escape hegemonic approaches and frameworks to the study of gender. Instead, they theorize from the local context to produce knowledge as they see it, challenging dominant discourses in academia and rejecting the presumptions of "Arab exceptionalism." This "engaged gender research" aims to challenge liberal feminisms and devise a new way of undertaking research on gender in the region to lay the foundation for a more just tomorrow.

The book covers Morocco, Tunisia, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, and the Arab Gulf, providing a comprehensive examination of the region's diverse experiences. It argues that an engaged gender research, which is feminist and critically analyzes the historical, political, economic, and social contexts of the research topic first, has the potential to transform our understanding of women and gender, as well as the Arab World.

In conclusion, the production of knowledge on women and gender in the Arab region is a complex process that is influenced by various factors. Arab women researchers play a crucial role in shaping this knowledge by providing unique perspectives and experiences. Through their critical examination of local fieldwork experiences, they challenge dominant discourses and frameworks, producing knowledge that is relevant to the local context and contributes to social change. The book "Engaged Gender Research in the Arab World" provides valuable insights into this process and highlights the importance of an engaged gender research to promote a more just and equitable future for women and gender in the Arab region.

Weight: 374g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780755645237