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Introduction
How do Arab women view feminism? What form of feminism is most appropriate in the Arab world? How can Arab women increase their freedom of choice while maintaining a significant connection with their culture? This paper attempts to answer these questions through an examination of relevant literature.
Feminist movements
There are many types of feminism and feminist movements such as radical feminism, postcolonial feminism and utopian feminism - each with their own particular view of the roles and rights of women ([15] Hoffman, 2001; [16] Hymowitz, 2003). [6] Davies (1990), in explaining the work of Kristeva, provided a useful conceptualization which divides feminism into three tiers as follows: firstly, a liberal feminism where women demand the same rights as men; secondly, a radical feminism where women are viewed as different and superior to men; and thirdly, post-structural feminism where the development of gendered subjectivity is seen as an ongoing process of interaction between individuals and societies. Kristeva believed that although the different forms of feminism emerged at different historical moments, they may be relevant in different contexts and focus on the achievement of different goals ([6] Davies, 1990).
To expand further, a liberal feminism may be invoked in situations where women are denied opportunities. When women are in a disadvantageous situation, they can call upon the concepts of justice and equality in order to gain access to situations denied to them due to their gender ([6] Davies, 1990).
A radical type of feminism may emerge where women seek to acknowledge their contributions that have been undervalued. If femaleness was not downgraded, there would no need to celebrate it. Radical feminism acknowledges that the world does not see the contribution of men and women as equal ([6] Davies, 1990).
[6] Davies (1990, p. 509) noted that one of the problems with debate at this tier is that in emphasizing the differences between men and women, it can give more power to men to dominate women; "One of the most vivid dangers at this tier is that it plays precisely into the hands of the patriarchs by emphasizing and essentializing the difference."
The third tier, then, allows for a way to move beyond fixed gender definitions and roles while still allowing for the existence of action...