Building Theory Across Struggles: Queer Feminist Thought from Lebanon Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of the Ohio State University By Dima E. Kaedbey Department of Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies The Ohio State University 2014 Dissertation Committee Guisela Latorre, Advisor Christine (Cricket) Keating Theresa Delgadillo Nadine Naber Copyright by Dima E. Kaedbey 2014 Abstract This dissertation is an analysis of theoretical innovations emerging from the queer and feminist movements in Lebanon. I argue that the queer feminist thought that is being produced in Lebanon today is rooted in histories of women's participation in local immigrant, labor, and anti-colonial struggles. Whereas these movements are often seen as separate, I put forth an indigenous queer feminist methodology that challenges the compartmentalization of movements. I also argue that queer feminism in Lebanon is breaking away from linear concepts of time and providing a cyclical temporality to show the interrelatedness of historical and current events. Finally, I examine the different ways that self-identified queer feminists reflect on the tensions and divisions within their communities. The process through which these local tensions are highlighted are critical of power structures within activist spaces, but they also aim at creating transnational connections with women of color in the U.S and with feminists of the Global South. ii Acknowledgements I do not take for granted my luck in having a wonderful and supportive committee, who were always there to listen, to give advice and feedback, and to write letters of recommendation. I could not have wished for a better adviser than Dr. Guisela Latorre, whose diligence and compassion pushed me to do my best in the shortest time. Guisela has survived all those bad first and second drafts of all my chapters, as she kept (kindly) pushing me forward. Dr. Cricket (Christine) Keating always gives great critical feedback, and every meeting with her has been a great conversation about queer anti-racist transnational feminism. I would like to thank Dr. Theresa Delgadillo for taking the time to read more than one draft of selected chapters and for always having the most insightful feedback that challenged me to strengthen my arguments. And of course, Dr. Nadine Naber, who has always been supportive in all the ways I asked her to support me. And I will always be grateful for one memorable telephone meeting where Nadine walked me through the ways to strengthen my analysis. I am thankful for my parents, Leila and Ezzat Kaedbey, My 3amtu, Najat, my brothers Basil and Jad. And for Basil and Reem for giving me the new role of a 3amtu. Spending the summer of 2013 writing at home in Lebanon reminded me how amazing my family is in giving me the space and the sustained support to be the solitary intellectual. iii A huge thank you goes to my chosen family and friends as well. Sara Abu Ghazal has been a sister, an intellectual partner, a teacher, and a friend throughout the years; her love and her faith in me have been the rock that I can always lean on. I am grateful to have found Faouziea A. AlChahal, whose brilliance and kindness makes her the bestest friend anyone could have. There are multiple places in this dissertation that acknowledge Samia Abou-Samra as someone who opened new ways of thinking for me about indigenous and U.S women of color politics. Samia was also always there to listen during some difficult days of grad school. The conversations I've had with my colleague and friend Brena (Yu Chen) Tai have always been stimulating and have helped me develop my own arguments. And I thank Ally Day for her friendship, and for reading and commenting on chapter four. Leila Ben-Nasr's friendship and company during our Bloody Mary Fridays have helped me get through the fatigue of the final year. In the final days of writing, wonderful people helped with the format guidelines. Mirna Haidar for offering; Rania Abou Samra, for her help. Nia Witherspoon for putting me in touch with people. I especially want to thank Emily Morehouse, who saved the day with her formatting magic. A nudge of deep gratitude goes towards women of color and indigenous feminists in the U.S who have been shaping my own politics for the past few years. Cherrie Moraga, Gloria Anzaldua, Audre Lorde, Jacqui Alexander, Andrea Smith and Incite! Women of Color Against Violence are a few of those names. I also owe much thanks to the activists and thinkers that I have included here, and many more whose name does not appear in this work. To Dajij, Pazuzu, Zee, Lynn, Nadz, Chant, Rasha and all the feminists who iv developed theories about their lives and about queer feminism in Lebanon. Your critical thinking has deeply influenced me and this dissertation would not have been possible without you. v Vita May 2001 …………………………………. B.A in English Language, American University of Beirut (Beirut, Lebanon) May 2007 …………………………………. Jehane Majzoub Excellency Award in English Literature (Beirut, Lebanon) May 2007 …………………………………. M.A in English Literature, American University of Beirut (Beirut, Lebanon) 2009-2014 ………………………………… Graduate Teaching Associate, Department of Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies, The Ohio State University (Columbus, OH) Publications “Is Brown the Color of Sexuality?” In Politics, Culture and the Lebanese Diaspora. Ed. Paul Tabar and Jennifer Skulte-Ouassis. New Castle: Cambridge Scholars, 2001. 336- 347. Fields of Study Major Field: Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies Specializations: Transnational Feminisms; Arab Feminisms; Chicana Feminism and Indigenous Feminism vi Table of Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................. iii Vita ..................................................................................................................................... vi Table Of Contents ............................................................................................................. vii Chapter One: An Introduction To Queer Feminist Thought ............................................... 1 Queer Methodologies ...................................................................................................... 5 Queer Feminism From Lebanon ................................................................................... 13 Knowledge Production In Activist Spaces .................................................................... 15 Women’s Rights Activism In Lebanon: The Unfollowed Leaders ............................... 28 The Iconization Of The Women's Movement ............................................................... 44 Where Do Sexuality And Queer Activism Fit Into The Story Of The Women’s Movement? .................................................................................................................... 49 Chapters Breakdown ..................................................................................................... 55 Chapter Two: Presenting Our Feminist Past: Women’s Labor Histories In Queer Feminist Thought ............................................................................................................................. 59 Serpentine Time ............................................................................................................ 64 Presenting The Past With Bread And Sweat: Feminism In Workers’ Struggles .......... 70 Chapter Three: Needles, Pens And Guns: Interweaving Histories Of Women's Resistance In Lebanon ........................................................................................................................ 91 A Vignette ..................................................................................................................... 93 Confined Resistance?: Women In Prisons .................................................................. 101 Women Fighting For Peace ......................................................................................... 117 Chapter Four: Queering Each Other Is A Reaching For Each Other: Rethinking The Position Of Migrant Workers In Queer Feminist Thought ............................................. 129 The Compartmentalization Of Domestic Migrant Workers ........................................ 133 A Transnational Lens............................................................................................... 135 The Sponsorship/Kafala System .............................................................................. 143 Migrant Women's Resistance .................................................................................. 147 vii Feminist Tools And Tactics ........................................................................................ 152 Queering Migrant Workers ......................................................................................... 161 Feminist Travels: Mundane Heroines At Home And Abroad ..................................... 175 Chapter Five: Fissures, Tensions And Interconnections Within Queer Feminist Thought ......................................................................................................................................... 187 Methodologies Of Introspection.................................................................................