Alifa Rifaat's 91st Birthday

Google Dooles 04.06.2021 23:15  Date: June 5, 2021 Today’s Doodle celebrates the 91st birthday of Egyptian feminist author Fatimah Rifaat, best known by her pen name Alifa Rifaat. Her short stories boldly challenged societal norms by exploring female relationships, sexuality, and emotional battles. Born on this day in 1930 in Cairo, Fatimah Rifaat penned her first short story—a tale centered around the village her family frequented in the summers—at only nine years old. Although her older sister reprimanded her for her writing, she continued her dreams of becoming a writer through English studies at the University of Cairo in the late 40s. Her sibling wasn’t the only person close to her that attempted to silence her voice. Even though she published many stories under her pseudonym from 1955 to 1960, Rifaat’s husband disapproved of her art and kept her from releasing her work for more than a decade. In the early 1970s, she finally began to write short stories again, a collection of which she released in 1983 under the title “Distant View of Minaret.” This uncensored selection of 15 fiction narratives takes readers into the emotional world of inter-marriage conflict, bravely confronting forbidden subjects in hopes that more women like herself were encouraged to speak their truth. In 1984, the Modern Literature Assembly honored Rifaat with the Excellency Award in honor of her over 100 published works, many of which have been translated into numerous languages and read on major international media outlets. Happy birthday, Alifa Rifaat! Thank you for not being afraid to share your truth and inspiring others to do the same. Location: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Tags: , , , , ,