Welcome to HTS 3051

History of Women and

Gender in the Middle
East

(Photo is by Shadi Ghadirian Untitled from the Ghajar

Series)
 Introductions
Turn to your neighbor. Find out:

•Their name
•One thing they hope to learn in class
•One guilty pleasure they have
 Overview

History of gender and sexuality in the Middle East from roughly the 6th
century to the 21st century.
 Texts

•Leila Ahmed, Women and Gender in Islam

•Fatima Mernissi, Dreams of Trespass: Tales of a Harem Girlhood
•Lamya H., Hijab Butch Blues: A Memoir
•Rajaa al-Sanea, The Girls of Riyadh
 Assignments
• Participation/preparation/discussion assignments 30%
• 2 Reflection Papers 5%
• Three short papers 40%
• Paper 1 10%
• Paper 2 15%
• Paper 3 15%

Final Project 25%

 Policies

3 absences no questions asked

Make-up assignments possible within 1 week of the due date w/10%

penalty
*does not apply to discussion assignments
*does not apply to your final project
 Tokens
You get 3 "tokens" to use over the course of the semester.
You can use these tokens to:
 excuse an unexcused absence
 to make a late assignment count as on time (as long as
submitted within a week)
 To excuse one preparation/discussion assignment
 Tools

• Perusall
• Annato
For Wednesday
Read
Lila Abu-Lughod “Do Muslim Women Need Saving?”
Mona el-Tahawy “Why do they Hate Us?”
Maya Mikdashi “How not to Study Gender in the
Middle East

Annotate
Open Perusall
Provide at least 4 annotations on this article
• 1 question or point for further
discussion
• Your favorite quote (using the hashtag
#favquote) with a brief explanation as
to why it appeals to you
• 2 other annotations of any kind.