Islam and Woman in the Contemporary Arab World: An Interpretation of Rajaa Al-Sanea’s Girls of Riyadh from Islamic Feminist Perspective

The present position paper explores to examine Rajaa al-Sanea’s“Girls of Riyadh” (2005) from the Islamic feminist perspective. Also, the study highlights the model of western feminism epitomised in the narrative under reference, vis-à-vis the Islamic concept of feminism. Islamic feminism grants equal rights to women and ensures its implementation in the Islamic state and society, whereas Western-sponsored feminism dwells on the archetype of women’s liberalism. That, in turn, leads to an anarchic and chaotic society, because of its believing in bringing women not only equal to men but superseding them in socio-cultural positioning. In the existing situation, the novel decries phallocentric society of Saudi Arabia and aiming at replacing it by the sensate-secular feminism that believes in the undue autonomy of the women. In order to investigate the presence of overwhelming patrilineal mores, the study pursues Islamic feminism as a theoretical model and employs reader’s response technique as a methodology. More far the findings of the research are concerned, the researchers conclude that replacing the patriarchal autonomy in the said society by Islamic feminism is befitting and benefitting than to replace it by the western feminism.

Post Earthquakechanges in the Physical and Academic Environment of Primary Schools of Aj&K

All disasters are undesirable but they gave us a chance to learn some meaningful lessons from them and to improve or at least to correct our pathway. Disaster such as an earthquake always tends to untangle the social structure of the society and expose their strengths and weaknesses. A descriptive research study was conducted to understand the post earthquake changes in the physical and academic environment of primary schools in AJ&K. The study was carried out in Muzaffarabad, the capital city of AJ&K (an affiliated state of Pakistan). Muzaffarabad was one of the worst earthquake affected district of AJ&K and being the capital city with crowded population and low spaced building infrastructure, it was devastated almost above than 90%. The study was aimed to assess the post earthquake changes in physical environment by mean of quality of reconstructed school building, and in academic environment by mean of teachers training, evacuation plans and emergency drills, incorporation of disaster related information in syllabus of primary classes and finally the awareness level of primary teachers as well as of students. The study employed a descriptive research methodology using quantitative approach. The sample was consisting of 36 schools with heads, teachers and students. Three questionnaires and one observation schedule were developed to get quantitative data. After statistical analysis, the results of the study showed that the training of teachers was not conducted; no serious attempt was made by head teachers to implement any curricular changes based upon disasters management especially about earthquake preparedness. There is no or very little incorporation of disaster related information and earthquake preventive measures in syllabus / course of primary classes. However, the awareness level of teachers and students was not as worse. They were found aware of basic preventive measures like not to run or evacuate in a hurry during the shaking continues. A training of teachers should be done and to develop a policy regarding the incorporation of disaster management especially the earthquake preventive measures in the course, textbooks or syllabus of primary classes.