Abstract
Gayatri Spivak is regarded as one of the prominent thinkers who bring together postcolonial and feminist studies. In her famous essay “Can the Subaltern Speak?” she examines how the voices of the marginalized—namely the subaltern, particularly women—can be expressed. Spivak uses the concept of the subaltern to describe the position of individuals and groups who exist at the margins of power and whose voices are scarcely heard, offering an analytical framework for understanding the representation of women as “subaltern” and their experience as the “Other” in postcolonial societies such as Algeria.
Ahlam Mosteghanemi, an Algerian poet and novelist, expresses the concerns of Arab women in her works, making her poetry worthy of study from a feminist perspective. This study analyzes Mosteghanemi’s poetry collections (Alaik Allahfa, Akadhib Samakah, Kitaba fi Lahzat al-‘Uri, Ala Marfa’ al-Ayyam) using a descriptive-analytical method, drawing on Spivak’s views on the subaltern. The aim is to reveal how women are represented as subalterns, evaluate the poet’s success in conveying women’s voices through this representation, and uncover the shared concepts between the experience of Algerian women and the subaltern experience as conceptualized by Spivak.
In Spivak’s theory of the subaltern, women are subjected to double oppression in colonial societies and their voices are marginalized; however, she argues for the potential of literature as a means of empowering them to express themselves. The research reveals that Mosteghanemi’s poetry does not merely reproduce the dominant discourse on women’s oppression but presents a distinctive vision that blends the Algerian feminist experience with the subaltern experience as theorized by Spivak. In her poems, the female voice emerges as a tool of resistance against both patriarchal and colonial discourse. The poet demonstrates an ability to transform poetic language into a space for redefining the Algerian female self, where women’s emotional experience intertwines with echoes of war and national memory. Thus, women appear as witnesses to both defeat and victory, expressing the pains of the Arab nation from a distinct feminine perspective.
Keywords: Feminist poetry; Ahlam Mosteghanemi; postcolonialism; subaltern; Spivak
Extended summary
Introduction
In contemporary Arabic literature, women constitute a pivotal voice reflecting their lived experiences and concerns. The Algerian poet and novelist Ahlam Mosteghanemi has successfully embodied this voice in her literary works. Her poetry presents a feminist perspective that highlights the suffering of women in patriarchal societies, making it a rich source for analyzing feminist and postcolonial theories. Within this framework, Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak’s theory of the “subaltern” emerges as a crucial analytical tool for understanding this experience.
Spivak is a prominent scholar in post-feminist and postcolonial studies. In her renowned article “Can the Subaltern Speak?” she addresses the problem of giving voice to the marginalized, particularly women. Her theorization provides an analytical framework for understanding the representation of women as “subaltern” and their experience as the “Other” in postcolonial societies such as Algeria.
This study seeks to analyze Mosteghanemi’s poetry from the perspective of subaltern theory, exploring how women are represented in her poems as “subalterns” and as “tools of resistance” against both male and colonial domination. It aims to reveal the ways in which the poet uses poetic language to express the feminist self, resist patriarchal control, and link the experience of Algerian women under colonization to the broader experiences of marginalized women in postcolonial contexts.
The main objectives of this study are to analyze how Mosteghanemi represents women as subaltern subjects and to evaluate whether her poetry succeeds in articulating women’s voices beyond dominant patriarchal and colonial narratives. Accordingly, the research addresses the following questions:
How does Ahlam Mosteghanemi portray the Algerian woman, both stereotypically and realistically?
How does Mosteghanemi use language and poetry to give voice to the oppressed woman?
Materials & Methods
The study adopts a descriptive-analytical method based on close textual analysis of selected poems from Mosteghanemi’s poetry collections, including ‘Alayka al-Lahfa, Akadhib Samaka, Kitaba fi Lahzat al-‘Uri, and ‘Ala Marfa’ al-Ayyam. These texts are examined in light of Spivak’s theoretical concepts such as subalternity, epistemic violence, representation, and agency.
Spivak’s theory of the subaltern emphasizes that marginalized individuals often “speak but are not heard” due to structural inequalities embedded within social and cultural systems. The concept highlights the double marginalization of women in postcolonial societies, where patriarchal norms intersect with colonial legacies. The study also draws on feminist and postcolonial perspectives that view identity as socially constructed and shaped by discourse rather than a fixed essence.
Research Findings
The study concludes that Mosteghanemi’s poetry does not merely reproduce narratives of female oppression but offers a nuanced vision that blends vulnerability with resistance. Her poetic language creates a space in which the Algerian woman emerges as both a subaltern subject and an active agent capable of challenging patriarchal and colonial structures. The findings demonstrate that literature can function as a powerful medium for amplifying marginalized voices and reshaping cultural narratives.
Discussion of Results & Conclusion
The analysis reveals several major themes in Mosteghanemi’s poetry. First, the poet portrays women as victims of patriarchal dominance, often silenced or reduced to symbolic roles. This reflects Spivak’s notion of epistemic violence, whereby women’s experiences are marginalized within dominant narratives.
Second, the poems depict an ongoing struggle for identity, illustrating how women internalize societal expectations while simultaneously resisting them. The tension between submission and resistance highlights the complexity of female identity in postcolonial contexts.
Third, the study demonstrates that Mosteghanemi emphasizes women’s agency through language, writing, and emotional expression. Writing becomes a means of reclaiming voice and redefining identity, transforming silence into a form of resistance. Even strategic silence appears as a conscious choice rather than the mere absence of voice.
Fourth, the poetry links personal experiences with national history, portraying women as witnesses to war, memory, and collective suffering. The intersection of gender and national identity reflects the broader postcolonial condition of Algeria, where personal and political struggles are deeply intertwined.
In conclusion, this research demonstrates that applying Spivak’s theory to Mosteghanemi’s poetry provides valuable insights into the representation of women’s voices in postcolonial literature. The poet successfully transforms poetic language into a space of resistance and self-representation, revealing the complexity of women’s experiences in Algerian society. The study highlights the importance of literary analysis in understanding how marginalized voices can be articulated and reimagined through creative expression.
Main Subjects
The Sources and References:
A:Books
B:Theses
Persian Sources
A:Books
B:Journals
https://doi.org/10.22077/islah.2023.6063.1222
https://doi.org/10.22059/jwica.2023.367618.1984
https://www.noormags.ir/view/fa/articlepage/1851144
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