Overview

This panel examines the evolution of feminist activism, scholarship and discursive practices through a discussion on the revolutionary Women’s Action Forum (WAF) in Pakistan in the 1980s and contemporary feminist work in the United Arab Emirates through the work of writer and lecturer Aisha Bilkhair.

WAF emerged as a significant feminist movement in the 1980s in response to repressive state policies and conservative measures introduced by the military dictatorship of General Zia-ul-Haq; these included laws that adversely affected women's rights and marginalised their participation in public life.

Aisha Bilkhair is an expert in oral history, ethnographic studies and the African diaspora with a special interest in women, the transformation of identity and the evolution of women’s education in the United Arab Emirates, among other things.

This session will examine the diverse strategies employed by prominent women to challenge patriarchal structures, amplify marginalised voices and foster inclusive public discourse. It will look at how these figures navigated the complexities of feminism and women’s identity alongside questions of intersectionality, plurality and global solidarity.