Analysis of Sīzā Nabarāwī’s feminist discourse from the perspective of argumentation theory

Abstract

Sīzā Nabarāwī's contribution to the history of women's intellectual movements is evident in her articles, which were published in the feminist journal L'Egyptienne (1925–1940). Her writings relentlessly challenged patriarchal norms, pushing the boundaries of advocacy for equal rights and opportunities for Egyptian women. Using the theory of argumentation proposed by Chaïm Perelman and Lucie Olbrechts-Tyteca, this article aims to identify the argumentative strategies used by Sīzā Nabarāwī in her selected publications in L'Egyptienne. This article will demonstrate how Nabarāwī used Islam to justify the reforms proposed by the Egyptian Feminist Union, which aimed to improve the status of Egyptian women. In order to legitimise her position, Nabarāwī uses female historical figures, Qur'anic hermeneutics, and highlights the inconsistencies of religious traditionalists. This research will contribute to the body of work by other authors who have defined the characteristics of the early Egyptian feminist movement led by Huda Ša'rāwī. At the same time, this article acknowledges Nabarāwī's contribution to the Egyptian Feminist Union.