About
Nawal El Saadawi was a pioneer of Arab feminism. Trained as a physician, she practiced as a psychiatrist and headed health education in Egypt's Ministry of Health. Her book 'Women and Sex' (1969) led to her dismissal. A prolific novelist and essayist, she denounced female genital mutilation and patriarchal oppression. Imprisoned in 1981, she wrote her memoirs on toilet paper. Founder of the Arab Women's Solidarity Association, she received numerous international awards. Her work, translated into over 30 languages, contributed to Egypt's 2008 ban on female genital mutilation.
* 1931-10-27 — † 2021-03-21
Major works
- Al-Mar'a Wa Al-Gins (Femme et sexe) (1969)nonfiction
- Imra'ah E'end Noktat Al-Ssifr (Femme au point zéro) (1975)novel
- The Hidden Face of Eve: Women in the Arab World (1977)nonfiction
- Memoirs from the Women's Prison (1983)memoir
- The Fall of the Imam (1988)novel
Key milestones
- 1972Dismissed from her government post after publishing 'Women and Sex'.
- 1981Imprisoned for two months under Sadat's regime; wrote her memoirs in prison.
- 2008Her activism contributes to Egypt's ban on female genital mutilation.
Themes
FeminismFemale genital mutilationPatriarchal oppressionSocial justiceFreedom of expression
Sources: britannica.com · english.ahram.org.eg · bbc.com