By Avin Youssef
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Female writers in Qamishli, northeastern Syria, believe that women’s participation in literary events is still timid despite improvement in previous years.
They suggest that certain societal factors, including inherited stereotypes and other influences, can contribute to women writers facing challenges when it comes to participating in local cultural activities.
Kurdish writer Shams Antar believes that women’s participation in cultural events and activities is still relatively limited, despite some noticeable progress in recent years.
Antar noted that until a few years ago, women’s involvement in cultural events was primarily limited to hosting or being part of preparatory committees, with minimal opportunities to present their own literary works.
“The transition from non-participation to participation is a milestone in itself, despite the low attendance,” she said.
She notes that some female poets refrain from participating in poetry evenings due to experiencing a social discomfort in openly expressing the emotions upon which poetry relies.
“Women continue to set boundaries for themselves and shoulder a considerable amount of responsibility. They restrict their activities out of fear of violating societal norms and due to lack of confidence to openly express their emotions, anticipating potential unwelcoming reactions,” Antar said.
She calls out local cultural associations and institutions that continue to hinder women’s participation by assigning them stereotypical roles and confining them to secondary positions.
Antar highlights the persistence of favoritism and the prevalence of a patriarchal mindset.
Marginalization and favoritism
Poet Hanaa Dawood strongly condemns local female writers, as well as the literary reality in the region as a whole.
Dawood tells North Press that the presence and participation of women in cultural activities are still limited to “modest evenings.”
She accuses some female participants in these events of lacking the ability to shed light on important topics, suggesting that their actions further contribute to the marginalization of true literature.
Certain individuals have been thrust into the limelight while others have been left behind solely because they refused to sing praises for specific parties, according to Dawood.
The poet cites several instances as evidence to support her claims, stating that “local cultural institutions and associations grant awards without adhering to true literary standards.”
Furthermore, “there is a notable absence of regulation in the printing of publications, as well as a lack of academic critique prior to their publication, especially in the case of Arabic-language works. This aspect applies to both genders.”
Hanaa characterizes the current state of the cultural scene as being in a stage of decline. She holds the view that the majority of what it is presented and published cannot be considered as literary work.
She expresses pessimism due to the fact that some female writers resort to inappropriate flattery in order to gain favor within cultural bodies and institutions.
Lack of confidence
Writer Nariman Afdaki believes that preconceived judgments result in a lack of self-confidence among female writers which, in turn, restricts their contributions.
Nevertheless, she points out that there is a significant increase in the number of works published by female writers and poets, adding that they are expanding their horizons beyond poetry and story writing and venturing into the realms of research and translation.
According to data from the Literature Office, which is affiliated with the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), the output of female writers accounted for approximately one-third of the total publications showcased at the Martyr Herkol Book Fair in Qamishli in late October.
She says that although this percentage is still relatively low, it indicates significant progress when considering the restrictions and obstacles faced by women writers.
Afdaki, who also serves as the spokesperson for the Literature Office, explains that the office assesses the works submitted by writers and authors, providing them with feedback to improve their work.
She observes that women are seldom selected by the organizers of lectures and panel discussions, suggesting a lack of interest or belief in their abilities as speakers or participants.
The spokesperson indicates that even if a female writer is chosen, she may hesitate and apologize for participating due to a lack of courage.
She wonders why female writers and poets are capable of delivering poetry or reading stories for hours but refrain from participating as lecturers or panelists in discussions.
The writer attributed that to the fact that responding to questions or facing criticism may demand a higher level of confidence compared to what is required for literary creativity.