Nawal

Nawal El Saadawi: Life and Publication History

By cvhs7campg
  • Born

    Born

    She was born in the small village of Kafr Tahla, the second eldest of nine children
  • Married Ahmed Helmi

    Married Ahmed Helmi

  • Graduated as a medical doctor

    Graduated as a medical doctor

  • Marriage ended

    Marriage ended

  • Met her third husband, Sherif Hetata, while sharing an office in the Ministry of Health.

    Met her third husband, Sherif Hetata, while sharing an office in the Ministry of Health.

  • Published Al-Mar'a wa Al-Jins (Woman and Sex)

    Published Al-Mar'a wa Al-Jins (Woman and Sex)

    Confronting and contextualising various aggressions perpetrated against women's bodies, including female circumcision, which became a foundational text of second-wave feminism. As a consequence of the book as well as her political activities, Saadawi was dismissed from her position at the Ministry of Health.[11] Similar pressures cost her a later position as chief editor of a health journal and as Assistant General Secretary in the Medical Association in Egypt.
  • Published Men and Sex

    Published Men and Sex

  • Contact with a prisoner at Qanatir served as inspiration for an earlier work, a novel titled Imraʾah ʿinda nuqṭat aṣ-ṣifr A Woman at Point Zero

    Contact with a prisoner at Qanatir served as inspiration for an earlier work, a novel titled Imraʾah ʿinda nuqṭat aṣ-ṣifr A Woman at Point Zero

  • Worked on researching women and neurosis in the Ain Shams University's Faculty of Medicine

    Worked on researching women and neurosis in the Ain Shams University's Faculty of Medicine

  • She was the United Nations Advisor for the Women's Programme in Africa (ECA) and Middle East (ECWA)

    She was the United Nations Advisor for the Women's Programme in Africa (ECA) and Middle East (ECWA)

  • Saadawi helped publish a feminist magazine, Confrontation, and was imprisoned in September by President Anwar al-Sadat

    Saadawi helped publish a feminist magazine, Confrontation, and was imprisoned in September by President Anwar al-Sadat

  • Saadawi was one of the women held at Qanatir Women's Prison. Her incarceration formed the basis for her memoir, Mudhakkirâtî fî sijn an-nisâʾ Memoirs from the Women's Prison

    Saadawi was one of the women held at Qanatir Women's Prison. Her incarceration formed the basis for her memoir, Mudhakkirâtî fî sijn an-nisâʾ Memoirs from the Women's Prison

  • Was the playwright for Twelve Women in a Cell

    Was the playwright for Twelve Women in a Cell

  • Published The Fall of the Imam

    Published The Fall of the Imam

  • When her life was threatened by Islamists and political persecution, Saadawi was forced to flee Egypt

    When her life was threatened by Islamists and political persecution, Saadawi was forced to flee Egypt

  • Moved back to Egypt

    Moved back to Egypt

  • University of California, Saadawi described the US-led war on Afghanistan as "a war to exploit the oil in the region", and US foreign policy and its support of Israel as "real terrorism".

    University of California, Saadawi described the US-led war on Afghanistan as "a war to exploit the oil in the region", and US foreign policy and its support of Israel as "real terrorism".

  • Awarded North-South Prize by Council of Europe

    Awarded North-South Prize by Council of Europe

  • protested in Tahrir Square

    protested in Tahrir Square

  • Saadawi said that "the root of the oppression of women lies in the global post-modern capitalist system, which is supported by religious fundamentalism

    Saadawi said that "the root of the oppression of women lies in the global post-modern capitalist system, which is supported by religious fundamentalism