Nawal el Saadawi
Nawal el Saadawi: A Life of Defiance and Courage
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Nawal el Saadawi (also known as Nawaḥ El-Saʿdāwī) is a prominent Egyptian feminist, writer, physician, and activist. Her name "Nawal" means "fragrant flower" in Arabic.
Birth and Death Dates
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Born on October 27, 1931, in Kafr Tahla, Egypt, Nawal el Saadawi passed away on August 22, 2021, at the age of 89.
Nationality and Profession(s)
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El Saadawi is an Egyptian national. She has practiced as a physician, writer, and feminist activist throughout her life.
Early Life and Background
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Nawal el Saadawi grew up in a conservative family in rural Egypt. Her father was a teacher who valued education highly, but he also had strong patriarchal views that often clashed with Nawal's desire for independence. El Saadawi began writing at an early age, influenced by the works of Arab and Western authors.
Major Accomplishments
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El Saadawi earned her medical degree from Cairo University in 1955. She worked as a surgeon and pediatrician before joining the Egyptian Ministry of Health. However, her outspoken views on women's rights and social justice led to her dismissal from government service in 1963.
In the following years, el Saadawi continued to write extensively, producing novels, essays, and memoirs that explored themes of feminism, Islamism, and social inequality. Her work has been translated into numerous languages, earning international recognition for its literary merit and political relevance.
Notable Works or Actions
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Some of el Saadawi's notable works include:
"Woman at Point Zero" (1980) - a novel that explores the life of an Egyptian prostitute and critiques patriarchal society.
"The Fall of the Imam" (1987) - a critique of Islamic fundamentalism in Egypt.
In addition to her writing, el Saadawi has been involved in various activist causes, including:
Founding the Arab Women's Solidarity Association (AWSA), which aimed to promote women's rights and challenge patriarchal norms.
Advocating for women's reproductive health and rights, particularly in the context of Islamic law.
Impact and Legacy
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El Saadawi's work has had a significant impact on feminist thought and activism globally. Her writing has influenced countless readers and scholars, including many prominent feminist thinkers.
Her legacy extends beyond her literary achievements to her tireless advocacy for human rights, social justice, and women's empowerment. El Saadawi's courage in the face of oppression serves as an inspiration to individuals worldwide fighting against inequality and marginalization.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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El Saadawi is widely quoted and remembered for her unwavering commitment to challenging oppressive systems and promoting human rights. Her writing, activism, and personal story have made a lasting impact on feminist thought and global social movements.
Throughout her life, el Saadawi has remained true to her values of equality, justice, and women's empowerment. As a writer, activist, and public figure, she continues to inspire individuals seeking positive change in the world.
Quotes by Nawal el Saadawi
God was just and that the head of the state in Egypt wielded his power fairly. If God deprived a child of family or wealth, He might bless him with intelligence, music, or the love of God and the homeland. A poor person might still be morally rich.
For truth and death are similar in that they both require a great courage if one wishes to face them. And truth is like death in that it kills. When I killed I did it with truth not with a knife. That is why they are afraid and in a hurry to execute me. They do not fear my knife. It is my truth that frightens them.
The tracing of a child’s lineage and its name with reference to the father, though it has lasted for many thousands of years, has not become any the more natural or reasonable as a result.
I have triumphed over both life and death because I no longer desire to live, nor do I any longer fear to die. I want nothing. I hope for nothing. I fear nothing. Therefore I am free. For during life it is our wants, our hopes, our fears that enslave us.
That men force women to sell their bodies at a price, and that the lowest paid body is that of a wife. All women are prostitutes of one kind or another. Because I was intelligent I preferred to be a free prostitute, rather than an enslaved wife.
We never know the reality of things: we see only what we are aware of. It is our consciousness that determines the shape of the world around us – its size, motion and meaning.
I am very much against makeup and high heels and all that we inherit as ‘beauty.’
To be creative means to connect. It’s to abolish the gap between the body, the mind and the soul, between science and art, between fiction and nonfiction.
If you do not love yourself, well, you cannot do anything well, that’s my philosophy.