Tension of Religious-Traditions and the Ideas of Women's Liberation in Dreams of Trespass’ Novel by Fatima Mernisi

Abstract

This article examines a novel titled “Dreams of Trepass: Tales of a Harem” as the literature work represents Fatima Mernissi’s critical thought in fighting for gender equality. The research methodology used is qualitative approach with textual analysis method. Based on research findings, Fatima Mernissi narrates the women liberation discourse through literature works which is not entirely fiction for its rooted from Fatima Mernissi’s own experiences who originated from harem-living family. The work is a reflexive of reality, as well as an aspiration for the ideal future in terms of the equal roles and rights between women and men. It concludes, feminism critical thought’s Fatima Mernissi needs to put on the living context where the work was created and historical time on which recounted, namely related to Arabic culture and Islamic religiosity in the 20th century Morocco. In that period, the world was transiting from colonization era to the movement of global nationalism in colonized countries, including Morcco. Therefore, there is collision between tradition and modernity which influencing women’s thoughts and thoughts of women in regards of universal humanism values with religious interpretation on the Islamic holy Qur’an.