AUS professor influences Arab women's literature and critical theory research

Dr. Nawar Al-Hassan Golley, Professor in English at American University of Sharjah (AUS), has been making waves in literary theory and women’s studies through her exploration of self-expression, identity and narratives of Arab women. 

Her research is a blend of interrelated scholarly tracks: literary theory, women’s studies and digital humanities. It engages with the socio-political realities of the contemporary Arab region and adapts various theoretical approaches and methodologies to address complex issues.

“I employ critical methodologies such as deconstruction, psychoanalysis, colonial discourse, postcolonial and narrative theories to explore the autobiographies of Arab women. These critical lenses reveal profound insights into Arab women's reconstructed lives," said Dr. Golley.

Dr. Golley's recent research work focuses on cognitive literary and linguistics studies, incorporating current inquiry in psychology, Arab women’s literature and translation. 

"My collaborative project, 'The Translation and Circulation of Arab Women’s Europhone Texts in the Arab World,' investigates the processes that English and French works by Arab women writers undergo when translated into Arabic and the impact of such processes on the way the texts are received by readers in the Arab world." 

Her current research is part of a rich portfolio of work, which also includes Reading Arab Women’s Autobiographies: Shahrazad Tells Her Story, a book that marked a turning point in Arab women’s literature and autobiography. 

“The book challenged colonial and prejudiced ways of reading and initiated critical attention to a growing body of literature that explores complex narratives of identity and self-creation," she said.

A firm believer in the symbiotic relationship between research and teaching, Dr. Golley noted that her research stimulates her teaching, which in return inspires further research. The establishment of the Minor in Women’s Studies at AUS led her to research the origins of Arab women organizing towards social justice.

Dr. Golley is also committed to international collaborations on gender issues in the Middle East and North Africa. She elaborated: "The Mapping the Production of Knowledge on Women and Gender in the Arab Region project, in collaboration with six renowned universities, aims to build a database of, and critically analyze, research on women and gender in the Arab region. It provides invaluable resources to early career scholars, inspiring innovative scholarship in the field."

Dr. Golley’s dedication to scholarship has not only earned her the AUS College of Arts and Sciences Excellence in Research Award but has also left a lasting impact on her students and emerging scholars. Her publications are widely recognized and used as course readings in universities worldwide. 

"Finding my work integrated into the curricula of esteemed universities worldwide is truly fulfilling. My book has become a central reading in the academic programs of several renowned institutions," she said.

Faculty from the College of Arts and Sciences at AUS consistently demonstrate a commitment to groundbreaking research and scholarly innovation. Dr. Golley's exceptional contributions in her field exemplify the college's tradition of setting the highest standards in academic excellence and pushing the boundaries of knowledge.

To learn more about the AUS College of Arts and Sciences, visit www.aus.edu/cas.