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Where to, Marie? Stories of Feminisms in Lebanon
A repeated—and ironic—accusation levelled at feminist movements in Arab countries in general and Lebanon in particular is that they are vectors of Westernization. In actual fact, the region’s feminist movements were born and developed in the context of nationalist and Communist movements and as part of the struggles for national liberation. Feminism was not a foreign ideology “imposed” by colonialism, but was instead indigenous to local societies. Women have long been struggling against colonial powers for equality and social justice, as well as against sectarian personal status laws and the entire patriarchal social structure than enforces them.
Feminism(s) in Lebanon have always been under harsh scrutiny, taking a backseat to “priorities” set by other movements. While women have actively taken part in nationalist and anti-capitalist struggles, from national independence to resisting Israeli occupation, and have played integral roles in class struggles as part of workers’ and students’ movements, their male comrades have tended to appropriate their struggles, alienating and pushing against their feminist agendas under the pretext that “women’s issues” are not revolutionary priorities.
Where to, Marie? seeks to showcase why and from where these feminist movements in Lebanon emerged and how they have grown over the course of the century. Certainly, a truly complete and comprehensive history of these movements is beyond the scope of one book. This is why the authors opted to tell the story of over a century of feminist activism through four fictional personal narratives. These are all based on extensive research carried out between 2010 and 2015, which included semi-guided interviews with feminist actors of different generations. Other sources, such as archival photographs, films, books, and articles regarding feminism(s) and social movements in Lebanon also informed the art and text, as did the experiences lived and witnessed by the authors of this book.
Completed during a tumultuous period that included massive protests, an unprecedented—and continuing—economic collapse, a blast that shattered nearly half of Beirut, and a pandemic, the creation of Where to, Marie? was not without its many interruptions and challenges. Nevertheless, the writers and artists involved hope that this colourful and sometimes dark work will spark curiosity and passion about a movement that is intrinsically tied to the wider and ongoing struggles in Lebanon, the region, and the world.
Feminism(s) in Lebanon have always been under harsh scrutiny, taking a backseat to “priorities” set by other movements. While women have actively taken part in nationalist and anti-capitalist struggles, from national independence to resisting Israeli occupation, and have played integral roles in class struggles as part of workers’ and students’ movements, their male comrades have tended to appropriate their struggles, alienating and pushing against their feminist agendas under the pretext that “women’s issues” are not revolutionary priorities.
Where to, Marie? seeks to showcase why and from where these feminist movements in Lebanon emerged and how they have grown over the course of the century. Certainly, a truly complete and comprehensive history of these movements is beyond the scope of one book. This is why the authors opted to tell the story of over a century of feminist activism through four fictional personal narratives. These are all based on extensive research carried out between 2010 and 2015, which included semi-guided interviews with feminist actors of different generations. Other sources, such as archival photographs, films, books, and articles regarding feminism(s) and social movements in Lebanon also informed the art and text, as did the experiences lived and witnessed by the authors of this book.
Completed during a tumultuous period that included massive protests, an unprecedented—and continuing—economic collapse, a blast that shattered nearly half of Beirut, and a pandemic, the creation of Where to, Marie? was not without its many interruptions and challenges. Nevertheless, the writers and artists involved hope that this colourful and sometimes dark work will spark curiosity and passion about a movement that is intrinsically tied to the wider and ongoing struggles in Lebanon, the region, and the world.
64 pages, ebook
Published January 1, 2020
2 people are currently reading
71 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 22, 2021
Read this for my class "Global Feminisms" (if you're my classmates hiii)
Really liked it! The way the art styles changed was super interesting and added a lot to the story. Thank you to the writers and artists and translator, we had fun dissecting this in class! (Especially those final pages)
Highly suggest reading and doing a little background research first so you get the full context.
Really liked it! The way the art styles changed was super interesting and added a lot to the story. Thank you to the writers and artists and translator, we had fun dissecting this in class! (Especially those final pages)
Highly suggest reading and doing a little background research first so you get the full context.
February 8, 2024
im so good at reading things that are not for school
lots to digest ,, will probably reread
lots to digest ,, will probably reread
February 9, 2022
An interesting graphic book about feminism in Lebanon and its connections to the history of the country in the 20th and early 21st centuries.
June 9, 2023
The struggle for women's rights is a struggle for the rights of all: men, children, and nation.
February 24, 2026
I want to be as kind as possible to comic books as this is a hard medium and I want to inspire more to write. Yet this is not really something that even should be a comic book this is more fitting for a Youtube video with more details. This book has no details and no meta explanations.
It's a free comic book and quite a mess. Multiple feminists tell their own story about their "fight" with a focus on Lebanon yet I don't understand any of it. One claims Israel is the main opposition. They talk about how fighting Israel forced women to work for the military hence not be fully women as they didn't have time to have kids. Or something? Of course there wasn't any war against Israel so what is she talking about here? In reality the leadership supported Israel when they went in to kill PLO fighters responsible for terrorist attacks in Europe and Israel. Who was she working for? For PLO? Also, what about the extremely pro gay laws in Israel as the only place in the Middle East? She doesn't explain any of this. Why is Israel the main foe of feminism in Lebanon today?
Then there is a woman who looks like a man? I don't understand it as they don't explain this stuff. And she is not even in Lebanon it seems yet they hide this fact for some reason so it looks like there is a huge trans movement in Lebanon protesting against the regime on the street. And they then talk about how some in the feminist movement support Syria's Assad and split up because of different opinions. Again not really getting into morals and it all seems messy. What are their moral standpoints? Are they just against Israel and hence pro Assad and Saddam Hussein and Iran?
There is a woman who went to China for some UN meetings? It also didn't change anything. She just went there ... that's the whole story.
I frankly wanted to learn about women in Lebanon and their struggles instead we get these weird statements about how they must fight against old Middle East values yet they never explain what the problem even is. They talk about not having the right to vote in the past. Israel being a factor against their feminism with the war against PLO in 1982. Some activism is needed ... what activism? What are the current problems? I would love to learn about feminism in Lebanon. It sounds very fascinating, but you need an actual message.
It's a free comic book and quite a mess. Multiple feminists tell their own story about their "fight" with a focus on Lebanon yet I don't understand any of it. One claims Israel is the main opposition. They talk about how fighting Israel forced women to work for the military hence not be fully women as they didn't have time to have kids. Or something? Of course there wasn't any war against Israel so what is she talking about here? In reality the leadership supported Israel when they went in to kill PLO fighters responsible for terrorist attacks in Europe and Israel. Who was she working for? For PLO? Also, what about the extremely pro gay laws in Israel as the only place in the Middle East? She doesn't explain any of this. Why is Israel the main foe of feminism in Lebanon today?
Then there is a woman who looks like a man? I don't understand it as they don't explain this stuff. And she is not even in Lebanon it seems yet they hide this fact for some reason so it looks like there is a huge trans movement in Lebanon protesting against the regime on the street. And they then talk about how some in the feminist movement support Syria's Assad and split up because of different opinions. Again not really getting into morals and it all seems messy. What are their moral standpoints? Are they just against Israel and hence pro Assad and Saddam Hussein and Iran?
There is a woman who went to China for some UN meetings? It also didn't change anything. She just went there ... that's the whole story.
I frankly wanted to learn about women in Lebanon and their struggles instead we get these weird statements about how they must fight against old Middle East values yet they never explain what the problem even is. They talk about not having the right to vote in the past. Israel being a factor against their feminism with the war against PLO in 1982. Some activism is needed ... what activism? What are the current problems? I would love to learn about feminism in Lebanon. It sounds very fascinating, but you need an actual message.
June 29, 2023
Saya selalu berpikir bahwa feminisme bukanlah satu hal yang statis. Layaknya udara, feminisme tumbuh berkembang bergantung dengan waktu, situasi, dan kondisi di mana ia ada.
Hal inilah yang saya temui pada "Where to, Marie?" Komik ini berisikan tentang gerakan feminisme di negara-negara Arab secara umum, khususnya Lebanon. Menariknya, gerakan feminisme ini diceritakan melalui kisah dan kacamata empat orang feminis. Meski lahir dan tumbuh pada lingkungan yang berbeda, keempatnya mengusung feminisme yang tentunya telah menyesuaikan kebutuhan saat itu.
Yang menariknya lagi, setiap cerita memiliki visual yang berbeda. Gaya gambar dan pemilihan warnah pun disesuaikan dengan garis besar cerita.
Buat kamu yang sedang tertarik membaca soal feminisme, bisa membaca buku ini. Bahasa yang digunakan sederhana dan tentunya visual yang ciamik akan membantu kamu memahami. Tenang ini bukan buku teori, jadi nggak ndakik-ndakik fafifu wasweswos. Hehehe.
Buku ini merupakan rekomendasi yang saya temukan di Twitter. Buku ini dapat dibaca dan diunduh secara gratis.
Hal inilah yang saya temui pada "Where to, Marie?" Komik ini berisikan tentang gerakan feminisme di negara-negara Arab secara umum, khususnya Lebanon. Menariknya, gerakan feminisme ini diceritakan melalui kisah dan kacamata empat orang feminis. Meski lahir dan tumbuh pada lingkungan yang berbeda, keempatnya mengusung feminisme yang tentunya telah menyesuaikan kebutuhan saat itu.
Yang menariknya lagi, setiap cerita memiliki visual yang berbeda. Gaya gambar dan pemilihan warnah pun disesuaikan dengan garis besar cerita.
Buat kamu yang sedang tertarik membaca soal feminisme, bisa membaca buku ini. Bahasa yang digunakan sederhana dan tentunya visual yang ciamik akan membantu kamu memahami. Tenang ini bukan buku teori, jadi nggak ndakik-ndakik fafifu wasweswos. Hehehe.
Buku ini merupakan rekomendasi yang saya temukan di Twitter. Buku ini dapat dibaca dan diunduh secara gratis.
July 5, 2023
Insightful story about Feminist Movement from our sisters in Lebanon!
It's always amazed me what women capable of doing if we could unite and change the world into a better environment for the oppressed!
It's always amazed me what women capable of doing if we could unite and change the world into a better environment for the oppressed!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews