Women of Middle Eastern and North African (MENA)* origin have not historically been visible in Australia’s literary industry. Whether this has been primarily due to systemic biases or lack of access opportunities, it is finally starting to change, as a new wave of MENA women are winning and shortlisting for major literary prizes and becoming bestsellers across the nation’s bookstores.
As these women and their extraordinary stories come into focus, ArtsHub considers: in what way is this movement iconoclastic, pushing against the multiple hegemonies of patriarchy and “white” Australian prejudice?
