Lesbianism as Another Alternative for the Other: A Punishment or an Escape? A Study of the Saudi Novel "Al-Akharun" (The Others)

Abstract

Arabic literature has had significant contributions to the discussion of taboo issues, like sex, over the course of the 20^th century. Recently, Saudi Arabian women writers have joined this group of authors by employing the themes of sex, the body, and other taboo issues. In response, some critics have accused these writers of trying to draw attention to themselves by exploiting such taboo subjects to increase their readership. In fact, these novelists have exposed new phenomena in conservative Saudi society and broken the stereotypical image of conservative Saudi women. This paper examines this growing tread through a case study of Saba Al-Herz’s novel Al-Akharun (The Others).