Midterm Review Questions

On the midterm you will be responding to three out of the following five questions; four of which will appear on your exam sheet.  Each essay will be awarded a total of 33 points; 33x3=99 out of a possible total of 100 points.  Everyone gets one bonus point for just showing up!

1. A not terribly enlightened person comes up to you and states, "The private/public dichotomy is an absolute one; that is, the two are always distinct and separate.  The private realm has to do with feminine, domestic, and therefore politically ineffectual activities; the public realm with masculine, therefore, socially and politically meaningful activities.  Explain how you might challenge this statement and how the traditional meanings associated with private and public (also the concept of the harem) may even be reversed in the Middle Eastern context.
2. The term "Hijab" has meant different things in different historical contexts.  Briefly describe the principal meanings associated with this term from its earliest application down to our time.  How do women themselves tend to justify their adoption or non-adoption of the veil?
3. Describe the rise of feminism in the Middle East, particularly in Egypt.  How would you characterize its relationship with nationalism?  How do you see these trends reflected in Harem Years? 
4. What are the goals of the new "radical" Islamic feminism(s) which started in the late twentieth century?  How is it similar to and different from earlier feminisms?
5. Pick at least three role models/influential characters in Huda Shaarawi's life and explain how they contributed to her feminist and political consciousness.