The Intersection of Patriarchy and Identity: Unveiling Gender-Based Violence in Raja Alem's The Dove's Necklace

This study delves into the intricate relationship between patriarchy and identity in Raja Alem's The Dove's Necklace, scrutinizing the portrayal of gender-based violence in the novel. Utilizing the feminist theoretical lens, it investigates how patriarchal structures construct individual identities, particularly those of women, perpetuating cycles of violence and oppression. Alem's narrative, set in the spiritually and culturally rich city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, highlights the intersectionality of gender, religion, and societal expectations, unveiling how these dynamics contribute to various forms of gender-based violence (i.e. physical, psychological, and sexual), the oppression, and the victimization of women. Through the analysis, the study reveals the connection between identity and patriarchal violence and offers broader insights into gender inequality within Arab culture generally and Saudi culture in particular. Through this literary investigation, the novel emerges as a critical commentary on patriarchal structures, and an invitation to reconsider gendered roles and violence in the contemporary Arab world.

Keywords: Patriarchy – Gender-Based Violence – Intersectionality – Feminist Theory – Arab Culture – Mecca