Woman+at+Point+Zero+African

Teaching //Woman at Point Zero// by [|Nawal El Saadawi]
Synopsis from Wikipedia: A psychiatrist [who happens to be Saadawi] is asked to examine the mental health of a female inmate, who was prosecuted for killing her former pimp; she has been granted parole but she has refused it every single time it has been granted to her. Reluctantly, the inmate, who is named Firdaus, tells the psychiatrist her life story.


 * Challenge 1: Understanding Egyptian Culture and [|Orientalism]**

The main challenge that your students will likely face is a lack of understanding of the culture in which the protagonist lives. [|Polygamy], [|female circumcision], [|arranged marriage] and little to no education for girls are just a few of the cultural practices that your students may have difficulty with. It is important for your students to understand these practices in context rather than simply through stereotypes or the Western lens. This should help them appreciate Saadawi's powerful assertion of the rights of women in this novel.

Following are some suggestions for classroom implementation:


 * //Study Orientalism//: Implement activities that encourage your students to discuss their knowledge of Africa and African Cultures using writing prompts, art/imagery, media, music. Discuss where this knowledge is acquired and possible connections to Orientalist ideas. You may want to implement excerpts from [|Edward Said's] book, [|//Orientalism//]. Introducing [|Orientalist artwork] is a great way to open discussion about representation through imagery, especially when compared/contrasted with modern imagery
 * //Study [|Egyptian Culture] as both African and Middle Eastern:// Many students have some knowledge of Ancient Egyptian Culture but little to no information about modern Egypt. Access several sources to get a full picture and focus on the culture during the time frame of the text.[|Islam] has a major influence over the culture of Egypt and will be important to study in regards to Egypts connection with the Middle East. [|Islam in Africa] [|Islam in Egypt]
 * //Invite a guest speaker into your classroom//: Create an atmosphere of interaction with the guest speaker, possibly even approach this idea with the intention of having the guest speaker be familiar with the text in order to engage in dialogue.
 * //Visit a museum with an African exhibit//

If you are attempting this text in a college setting, this may be less of an issue for you (high school, definitely at issue). However, it is still important to address both issues so as not to maintain a level of comfort for your students.
 * Challenge 2: Dealing with Violence and Controversial Topics**

Following are suggestions for classroom discussion:
 * //Consent Forms//: If you are attempting to teach this text in the high school setting, you may want to offer a consent form for parents to sign. At the college level, it may be appropriate to offer a form for your students to sign.
 * //Read excerpts from the text//: Reading the entire text may be too overwhelming for your students and it may be helpful to select less graphic excerpts.
 * //Combine with the reading of supplemental materials//: To offset the emotional heaviness of this text, it may help to introduce supplemental materials that offer to offer a diverse perspective of the treatment of women in Egypt//.// Suggested supplemental reading: //[|Memoirs from the Women's Prison]//, //[|The Hidden Face of Eve:Women in the Arab World]//, and //[|The Nawal El Sadaawi Reader]// by Nawal El Sadaawi[| May Her Likes be Multiplied: Biography and Gender Politics in Egypt] [|Marilyn Booth]//The[| Palace Walk]// (YA Lit) by [|Naguib Mahfouz] winner of the 1988 Nobel Prize for Lit


 * Additional Resources**

This site offers [|extensive discussion] of the text, biography of Nawal El Saadawi, and resources for teaching such as supplementary text

A list of [|discussion questions] for //Woman at Point Zero//

Supplementary Wiki on //Woman at Point Zero// by Nicole Ziegler

Information on [|Nawal El Saadawi]

[|Articles] by Egyptian authors to preserve Egyptian Culture

Michelle Ringle-Barrett