Nawal El Saadawi

Date of Birth: October 27, 1931

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

Date of Death: March 21, 2021

Biography

Nawal El Saadawi was an Egyptian writer, activist, and psychiatrist who significantly contributed to literature and women’s rights in the Arab world. Born in 1931 in Kafr Tahla, a small village in Egypt, she pursued a career in medicine, graduating from Cairo University in 1955. Her experiences as a rural health doctor exposed her to the harsh realities faced by Egyptian women, which fueled her activism and writing. Nawal’s literary works often focused on the oppression of women and the struggle for female emancipation in patriarchal societies. Her most famous book, “Women and Sex,” published in 1972, criticized the practice of female genital mutilation and other forms of gender-based violence. This led to her dismissal from the Egyptian Ministry of Health and marked the beginning of her life as a controversial figure. Throughout her career, El Saadawi authored numerous novels, short stories, and non-fiction works, which have been translated into more than 30 languages. She also founded the Arab Women’s Solidarity Association and the Health Education Association, advocating for women’s rights and health. Despite facing imprisonment, exile, and numerous threats, Nawal El Saadawi continued to fight tirelessly for gender equality and social justice until her death in 2021.

5 Interesting Facts about Nawal El Saadawi

1. Nawal El Saadawi was dismissed from her position at the Egyptian Ministry of Health after the publication of her book “Women and Sex” in 1972.

2. She was imprisoned in 1981 for her outspoken criticism of the government but was released after the assassination of President Anwar Sadat.

3. El Saadawi’s novel “Woman at Point Zero” is based on a true story of a woman she met while working as a doctor in a women’s prison.

4. She was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature several times but never won.

5. In 2005, she ran for the presidency of Egypt but was forced to withdraw due to oppressive measures by the government.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Nawal El Saadawi

1. “I am becoming more radical with age. My understanding of oppression and the way it works deepens.”

2. “They said, ‘You are a savage and dangerous woman.’ I am speaking the truth. And the truth is savage and dangerous.”

3. “Solidarity between women can be a powerful force of change, and can influence future development in ways favourable not only to women but also to men.”

4. “To understand a woman, you must understand the world she lives in.”

5. “Creativity is the search for truth. It is the refusal to hide and to be silent.”