Gendered Silence in Contemporary Saudi Arabian and Nigerian Novels

Abstract

This thesis centres on silence in connection with questions of identity, power, authorship, language choice, literary form and publishing contexts. In particular, it investigates modes of gendered silence and brings together Saudi Arabian and Nigerian fiction from the 2000s to 2013. This comparative approach allows new perspectives on writing that can be positioned in the broader field of postcolonial studies, seeking a fresh understanding of the part of gender hierarchies and gender politics in both constituting and confronting forms of silence. It examines a diverse range of authors, including the Saudi male writers Yousef Al-Mohaimeed and Ahmad Abodehman, the Saudi female writer Badriah Albeshr, the Jordanian female novelist Fadia Faqir, and the Nigerian novelists Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Jude Dibia, female and male respectively. Drawing on theories of postcolonialism, feminism, narratology and paratext, my research proposes that attending to how colonial and national histories intersect with gender dynamics in Saudi Arabian and Nigerian contemporary novels enables significant insight into the complexities of silence and power, position, and resistance. By examining narrative techniques and characterisation in both female and male characters, this analysis reveals how gendered literary representations can either reinforce or challenge mainstream narratives, contributing to or subverting silence. The study critically engages with the concept of hegemonic masculinities, highlighting how these dominant social norms impose restrictions and create social tensions for both men and women. Additionally, the figure of the mother emerges as a contested site within the gender dynamics portrayed in the selected novels. Nigerian novels, often written in languages different from local native tongues, contrast with Saudi novels, predominantly composed in Arabic, as they navigate neocolonial and cosmopolitan influences. Despite these linguistic and historical differences, both literary traditions reflect societies deeply rooted in religious and tribal norms, where traditional gender roles are polarised. This study also extends its inquiry to paratextual and publishing contexts, investigating how the paratext influences the narrative’s reception and interpretation, further complicating the dynamics of silence within and around the novel.