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History 444WOMEN IN THE MIDDLE EASTRudi MattheeWeekly Seminar
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This course examines the major developments, themes and problems in women's history in the Middle East from the advent of Islam to the present. By tracing women's legal status, sexual morality, family and social life, and female economic and political participation, it seeks to shed light on the process of women's roles in society and to challenge the notion that gender divisions and roles have been static over time. The introductory week is designed to become familiar with theoretical perspectives and debates on women and, in particular, women in the Middle East and Islam. The next segment of the course, which is devoted to the early history of Islam, explores the important and much-debated question of the origins of gender inequality in Islamic societies. The third part examines the medieval period and investigates women's actual place in society, as opposed to the idealist version. The fourth part probes the Ottoman and Safavid period (16th-18th c.), discussing the question of the harem and the influence of women in political life. The fifth part addresses the question of the challenges posed by the impact of the West, the effects on women and female reactions to this challenge, with a focus on Egypt and Iran. The final section addresses questions relating to the “return” of Islam and its repercussions for women in dress, employment, and morality. Aside from scholarly studies, documentaries and literature will be used to see how, in the modern period, women have defined themselves amid tremendous political, social and economic change.
Required Readings: (available at the bookstore)
Nikki R. Keddie, Women in the Middle East: Pat and Present. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2007.
Janet Afary, Sexual Politics in Modern Iran. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2009.
Lara Deeb, An Enchanted Modern: Gender and Public Piety in Shi`i Lebanon. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2006.
Reserve readings (at library reserve desk and on-line, #2355)
Exams and Papers:
Two take-home essays, handed out on Oct. 12—due on Oct. 19, and handed out Nov. 2—due on Nov 9, will take the place of the midterm exam. There will be a two-hour in-class final exam on the exam day scheduled for this class. A 15-page paper, based on a historical topic of your choice, approved by Professor Rudi Matthee, is due on Nov. 30. You should have a one-page summary of the proposed topic, with bibliography, ready by Nov. 2 to present for approval.
All work must be done on time; no incompletes are given except in emergency cases.
Plagiarism is the act of presenting someone else’s work as your own. It is a form of dishonesty--a form of cheating, in fact—as such one of the new deadly sins (the old ones have either been forgotten or are so flagrantly violated that no one seems to care anymore) and will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Plagiarism is not limited to using someone else’s exact words; using someone else’s ideas without attribution is also a form of plagiarism. The good news is that plagiarism is easily avoided by clearly citing your sources. If you do, you can safely avoid even the hint of improper usage of someone else’s work.
Grades in the course will be based on the following:
1. Midterm examination 20%
2. Final examination 30%
3. Term paper 40%
4. Class attendance and
participation 10%
For printable syllabus in Word Format.