Al- Raida Issue
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
CJ") ,p I [ ;~ :z: -LU ::E --' ::I: 0- <[ :E CJ") ~ ::I: (...) ~..0\)I Volume XIII, No, 73, Spring 1996 The PioneE LL. LU :::J: ~ I- :::J: -:3 • One day in the south Prof e a .' edlcal pioneer ABOUT IWSAW The Institute for Women's Studies in the Arab Women's Documentation Center in the Stoltzfus World (IWSAW) was established in 1973 at the Library at LAU. The Center holds books and peri Lebanese American University (formerly Beirut odicals. The Institute also publishes a variety of University College). The founder and Director of books and pamphlets on the status, development the IWSAW is Dr. lulinda Abu Nasr. Initial fund and conditions of Arab women, in addition to Al ing for the Institute was provided by the Ford Raida. Eight children's books with illustrations, Foundation. and two guides, one of which specifies how to set up children's libraries, and the other which contains OBJECTIVES: The Institute strives to serve as a data information about producing children's books, have bank and resource center to advance a better under also been published by IWSAW. In addition, the standing of issues pertaining to Arab women and Institute has also created income generating pro children; to promote communication among indi jects which provide employment training and assis viduals, groups and institutions throughout the tance to women from war-stricken families in world concerned with Arab women; to improve the Lebanon. The Institute has also devised a "Basic quality of life of Arab women and children through Living Skills Project" which provides a non-formal, educational and development projects; and to integrated educational program for semi-literate enhance the educational and outreach efforts of the women involved in development projects. Lebanese American University. Additional IWSAW projects include The Rehabilitation Program for Children's Mental PROJECTS: IWSAW activities include local, region Health; Teaching for Peace; and the Portable al and international conferences; seminars, lectures Library Project. The latter project was awarded the and films; and educational projects which improve Asahi Reading Promotion Award in 1994. For more the lives of women and children from all sectors of information about these or any other projects, write Lebanese society. The Institute houses the to the Institute at the address provided above. ABOUT AL-RAIDA AI-Raida is published quarterly by the Institute for Each issue of AI-Raida features a File which focuses Women's Studies in the Arab World (lWSAW) of the on a particular theme, in addition to articles, confer Lebanese American University (LAU), formerly ence reports, interviews, book reviews and art news. Beirut University College, P.O. Box 13-5053/59, Beirut, Lebanon; Telephone: (01) 867-618, ext. 288; REPRINT RIGHTS: No unsigned articles may be Fax: (Ol) 867-098. The American address of LAU is reprinted without proper reference to AI-Raida. 475 Riverside Drive, Room 1846, New York, NY Permission to reprint signed articles must be obtained 10115, U.S.A.; Telephone: (212) 870-2592; Fax: from the IWSAW. (212) 870-2762. SUBMISSION OF ARTICLES: We seek contributions PURPOSE AND CONTENT: AI-Raida 's mission is to from those engaged in research, analysis and study of enhance networking between Arab women and women in the Arab world. Contributions should not women all over the world; to promote objective exceed ten double-spaced typed pages. Please send a research of the conditions of women in the Arab hard copy and a diskette. We reserve the right to edit world, especially conditions related to social change in accordance with our space limitations and editori and development; and to report on the activities of the al guidelines. Submissions will not be published if IWSAW and the Lebanese American University. they have been previously published elsewhere. THE ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION FEE FOR AL-~DA IS US $ 25. S UBSCRIPTIONS BEGIN IN J ANUARY AND END D ECEMBER. Volume XIII, No. 73, Spring 1996 The Pioneer TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 .£ditotial: Subjectivity versus Hala Masri: Singer Subjection Evelyn Accad: Scholar, Novelist 3 OPi"io,,: Polemics on Abortion and Musician 4 t2ettets to the .£ditot Dr. Lina Abyad: Theater 5 Quote /'U."1uote • Poetry: 6 ~eseatch /Votes By Arab Women 7 /VewsBtiets By young Lebanese women 8 IWSAW /Vews 38 S pedal ~eat uus 11 ~lle: Arab Women in the Fine Arts • Dr. Najla Na'aman, medical pioneer • Introduction • One day in the south • Historical overview • Violence against women • Interviews: 45 Book ulIlews Helen Khal: Artist • Faith and freedom: Women's human Amal Trabulsi: Gallery owner rights in the muslim world Jumana Sayegh: Crafts • Arab women novelists: The forma Dany Bustros:Dancer tive years and beyond eOl1t'l Au: "Blue Steel", oil on canvas, 1973, by Hugette Caland, Lebanese painter. Founder: Dr. lulinda Abu Nasr AI-Roido Editor-in-Chief: Mrs. Laurie King-Irani Assistant Editor: Ms. Ghena Ismail The quarterly journal of the Institute for Women's Design: Ms. Ghina Doughan Studies in the Arab World Advisory Board Members: Lebanese American University Dr. Mona Amyuni P.O. Box 13-5053/59 Ms. Randa Abul Husn Ms. Adele Khudr Beirut, Lebanon Dr. Nadia Cheikh Dr. Waddah Nasr Telephone: (01) 867-099, ext. 288 Dr. Hassan Hammoud Ms. Hania Osseiran Fax: (01) 867-098 Mrs. Mona Khalaf Ms. Wafa Stephan Tarnowski 2dlto'llal UBJECTIVITY VERSUS SUBJECTION: The Role ojWofne I in (1ontemporary Arab lthough I have viewed beautiful and impressive their impact on social and political developments. works of art in a number of art galleries in Through their art, some are attempting to change the A Lebanon, Tunisia and Palestine over the last ten world "from the inside out" by encouraging others to see years, my most memorable encounters with art works in the world from new angles, to reassess their values and the Arab world occurred in unlikely settings: a lawyer's priorities, to call attention to dangers threatening not only office and a doctor's clinic. In both cases, the art works I the Arab world, but the entire human race, e.g., environ saw and admired were the creations of political prisoners mental devastation, economic injustices, psychological and torture victims who had made ingenious use of mun and political repression, and the dangerous cycles of war dane and simple materials--rocks, match sticks, the inside fare currently erupting all over the world. of toothpaste tubes, wrapping paper--to give voice to their indomitable spirits and their unquenchable thirst for free Other articles in this issue of Al-Raida indicate the extent dom, dignity, beauty and humanity. The artists in both of the dangers, troubles and injustices to which individu cases were neither well-known nor extensively trained in als in Lebanon and other Arab countries are subjected. the fine arts. Rather, they were creative, sensitive and Nada Awar's moving article about the tragedy in Qana in strong individuals who had found unusual ways to convey South Lebanon last April and Ghena Ismail's report on a powerful messages under difficult circumstances. Their workshop concerning violence against women remind us artistic creations were compelling and moving examples that a lot of passion, effort, creativity and courage are of art as passionate declaration rather than clever decora required of women as well as men, to heal the wounds of tion. our societies and pave the way to ajust and healthy future for Arab women, men and children. The free and creative To create a work is to make a very personal statement expression and sharing of our dreams, visions, hopes and about one's innermost experiences, dreams, desires and values, whether through the arts or other media of com emotions. To externalize one's private, inner world munication, cannot but enable us to create a better future before a public audience requires even more courage, together. especially if the artist is a woman creating in a cultural milieu which has traditionally encouraged women's The next issue of Al-Raida will be a special double issue silence, submission and exclusion from the public realm. focusing on the topic "Women's Rights are Human Yet, despite these risks, Arab women artists working in a Rights: Perspectives from the Arab World." If you are variety of media are making their mark on contemporary interested in submitting an article, report or graphics for Arab culture and society. this issue, please do so before 1 October 1996. Laurie King -Irani In the file section of thi s issue of Al-Raida we present Editor-in-Chief some established and emerging women artists and their works. Whether painters, novelists, musicians or per formers, these women have a passion to express and actu alize their subjectivity, to reveal their uniqueness as dis AnnQuncement tinct, creative individuals possessing definite opinions and feelings about the world in which they live. This Al-Raida is looking for foreign correspondents to affirmation and celebration of subjectivity and selfhood is write stories on topics and issues of concern to women played out against an increasingly bleak background of throughout the Arab world. If you are a professional or social, political and economic subjection of the Arab indi freelance journalist or researcher living in an Arab vidual, whether male or female. Some of the artists we have surveyed in this issue expressed the hope that, by country, please consider submitting reports on legisla sharing their visions, concerns and dreams through their tion, events, conferences, debates and performances art work, they may be able to effect positive social and related to women and women's issues. If your article cultural changes. In confronting subjection with their is accepted for publication, you will receive a payment own subjectivity, these women are redefining their roles, of US$100.