Doha: Qatar National Library (QNL) organized a symposium titled "Women's Travel Literature: Journeys Through Female Eyes - Between the Real and the Imagined," bringing together researchers, academics, and literature enthusiasts interested in gender studies, history, and cross-cultural exploration. The event featured discussions in both Arabic and English, emphasizing the unique perspectives women have contributed to travel literature and their impact on cultural narratives.
According to Qatar News Agency, Dr. Moez Dridi, Senior Archives Specialist at QNL, inaugurated the symposium by highlighting the transformative role travel has played in helping women question identity, engage with social justice themes, and redefine gender and cultural boundaries. Dr. Dridi remarked on the often-overlooked yet enriching insights these women's writings offer, challenging dominant historical narratives and fostering a deeper intercultural understanding.
The symposium delved into how female travelers of the 19th and early 20th centuries utilized travel and the resulting literature as tools for empowerment, self-discovery, and challenging societal norms. The discussions underscored the distinct voices of women who documented their Eastern encounters during times when women's contributions were often marginalized in the literary world.
Presentations included Dr. Falestin Naili from the University of Basel, who examined Hilma Granqvist's work in Palestine, Dr. Leila Jabri from the Institute of Heritage in Tunisia, who analyzed Tunis's architectural heritage, Dr. Soundouss El-Ketani from the Royal Military College of Canada, who explored Cristina Belgioioso's views on colonialism, and Dr. Nadia Riahi from the University of Tunis, who discussed Isabelle Eberhardt's travels in the Maghreb deserts.
The symposium encouraged attendees to consider the existence of female Orientalism, paralleling male counterparts from the same historical period, through the experiences and intellectual contributions of women travelers, archaeologists, and ethnologists who engaged with foreign cultures in meaningful ways.