Ambivalence of Female Power and Prostitution in Nawal El Saadawi’s Woman at Point Zero

Abstract

Several factors in contemporary society have made diverse demands of women. The demands have necessitated the search of options so as to lope with the challenges and pressures of modern life. This study identifies that most studies of the status of women usually focus on the oppression, stereotyping, and dehumanisation of women in patriarchal society only. However, this paper examined how the female in Nawal El Saadawi’s Woman at Point Zero transcended the limit, exhibiting qualities that are perceived to be those of the male and in addition recognises that many women identify prostitution as a survival strategy; the reality of using what they have to obtain what they need. This creates ambivalence in their nature. This study on one hand projects the weakness of women in prostitution and on the other fills the critical gap by showing how the stereotype of the weaker sex is broken by women in the novel. The paper adopts feminism as a theoretical framework to explore the ambivalence of the female power and prostitution. Deploying the qualitative method of analysis and the eco-critical method, the study explains the ambivalence of womanhood in the novel. The women’s strength is visualised by their becoming a voice, sexually active, economically and independently successful, fearless, defending themselves from their oppressors, and consequently asserting their womanhood. The woman’s weakness is viewed in their indulgence in prostitution for economic empowerment. The paper concludes that patriarchal forces push the women into prostitution but when the oppressed (women) are pushed to the wall, they have no other option but to revolt. Consequently, the radicalism in the novels is not only aimed at challenging patriarchal agents but to also raise the consciousness that women should be treated fairly and given equal opportunities.