Re-writing the Self in Fatema Mernissi’s Memoir: Scheherazade Goes West: Different Cultures, Different Harems

In the context of women’s identity politics, the discourse of ‘Positionality’ highlights the complexities of women’s reclamation of subjectivity and individuality. ‘Positionality’ is one of the core tenets of poststructuralism, which generally maintains that recognizing women’s identities requires recognizing the range of the different markers associated with race, gender, sociopolitical status, and cultural approaches. This perspective implies that one’s own identity is no longer confined to a fixed or stable state but should be interpreted in relation to its social context, both temporally and spatially. Third Wave Feminists share a common perspective that has embarked on the same innovative path that not only questions the rigid definitions of identity but also moves beyond a narrow focus on gender as its exclusive domain of identification. In other words, this movement adamantly rejects the notion of an isolated, autonomous self. In this article, I argue that Fatema Mernissi’s memoir Scheherazade Goes West (2001) is a comprehensive exploration of multiple selves, largely influenced by socio-political, historical, and cultural factors. Mernissi’s approach recounts her experiences in the West which contribute to the formation of her multiple identities. This complex engagement with her surroundings allows Mernissi to navigate various aspects of her identity, thereby emphasizing its multifaceted nature, and elucidating the intricate interplay between cultural, ethnic, and gender dynamics. This multifaceted approach provides Mernissi with a clear understanding of her identity (a rebirth), surpassing conventional binary classifications associated with Second Wave feminists’ theory. Through her narrative and commentary, Mernissi reveals how identity is shaped by and intersects with societal discourses, illustrating the multifarious dimensions of her existence.