Women in Modern Arabic Poetry: A Methodological Review of Themes and Feminist Representations

Abstract

This systematic review examines feminist themes and women's representations in modern Arabic poetry through an analysis of scholarly literature indexed in Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, an initial search retrieved 210 academic sources. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 65 peer-reviewed journal articles, 18 books, and 27 critical essays published between 1980 and 2024 were selected for in-depth analysis. The findings demonstrate that modern Arabic poetry represents a means for female poets to challenge patriarchal norms and assert their identity. The main themes identified include: female agency and voice, resistance and empowerment, love and desire, motherhood, and sociopolitical struggles. The study highlights the contributions of female poets such as Nazik al-Malaika, Fadwa Tuqan, Jumana Haddad, and other contemporary voices, demonstrating the development of feminist poetry across different time periods. The research also explores censorship, societal reception, and the intersection of feminism with cultural and religious contexts. This study contributes to feminist literary criticism by offering a comprehensive synthesis of feminist discourse in modern Arabic poetry and its impact on gender representation in contemporary Arabic literature.