Representation of Arab Women in Cyber Literature

HUMANIORA (26/4/2024) A recent study published in an academic journal highlights the representation of Arab women in cyber literature and its impact on their identity. This research adopts a cyberfeminist critical perspective, examining how the cyber world in literary works can influence the self-image of Arab women involved in such content.

Through a deductive qualitative content analysis design, the researchers, consisting of three academics, namely M. Faisol, Abdul Basid, & Al Lastu Nurul Fatim, reviewed selected digital data to examine short stories in cyber literature. The research findings indicate that the representation of Arab women in cyber literature is often influenced by stereotypes and symbolic violence. They are frequently depicted with negative labels such as curses, wild animals, demons, or even as passive objects owned by men.

Furthermore, the study titled "The Face of Arab Women in Cyber-Literature," published in the Arab Media & Society journal, explains that these negative representations not only affect the image of Arab women in the virtual world but also exacerbate their identity crisis in the digital society.

Through the feminist critical perspective applied to cyber literature, this research reveals that Arab women still struggle with restrictions placed on their freedom and rights.

The study also highlights Sarah Haraway's argument (1991) about the importance of cyberfeminism in shaping ideas and acknowledging positionalities and power dynamics in the cyber world.

With these findings, the researchers advocate for more research focusing on the representation of Arab women in digital contexts, as well as efforts to raise awareness of gender issues in the cyber world. The full description of this research can be read on the website https://www.arabmediasociety.com/the-face-of-arab-women-in-cyber-literature.