Neoliberalism and Feminist Discourse: Between Assimilation and Resistance in the Arab Context
Neoliberalism and Feminist Discourse: Between Assimilation and Resistance in the Arab Context by Gihan Abou Zeid
Since the early 1990s, neoliberalism in the Arab world has not merely functioned as an economic policy imposing privatization and shrinking the role of the state. It has also manifested as a cultural-symbolic hegemonic structure that redefined concepts such as "empowerment," "success," and "freedom" under market conditions rather than through the lens of justice. At the heart of this transformation, feminist discourse has been re-produced to align with the logic of "individual merit" instead of interrogating the social structures that perpetuate discrimination.
This paper examines this transformation by deconstructing its structural dialectic: How did neoliberalism ally with patriarchy and authoritarianism to recast Arab feminism as a tool for symbolic inclusion rather than a force for structural deconstruction? How was empowerment transformed into a marketable performance, and success into a representational appearance? Drawing on the tools of feminist political economy, the paper re-analyzes this trajectory as a hidden pattern of self-discipline rather than overt exclusion.
The second half of the paper is devoted to tracing narratives of feminist resistance that emerge despite hegemonic constraints, generating diverse forms of action, organization, and discourse. These differ in their tools and locations, yet converge in rejecting the containment of the self within market logic. From this vantage point, the paper becomes a call to reinvent the path—toward an intersectional, liberatory feminism that restores empowerment to its political roots and reclaims women's rights and social justice as a transformative project, not a promotional slogan.
By the early 1990s, most Arab countries entered a phase of economic restructuring, coinciding with the decline of the developmental state model and the rise of free-market policies imposed by international financial institutions (IFIs) such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. This transformation materialized through privatization, subsidy cuts, market liberalization, and reduced social spending. Simultaneously, poverty deepened, union protections eroded, and the gap between social classes widened. All of this unfolded under the banner of "reform" and "sustainable development," yet at its core, it marked a reversal of the principles of social justice—including gender justice.
In this climate, a new discourse on "women's empowerment" emerged, largely driven by international directives or official domestic sponsorship. Public policies emphasized integrating women into the labor market, facilitating access to microfinance, and promoting "women entrepreneurs" and "businesswomen," often spotlighting successful female figures in the media and private sector. However, this selective discourse overlooked women's class and geographic contexts, focusing almost exclusively on the educated urban elite.
Notably, neoliberalism did not necessarily conflict with patriarchy; rather, it often allied with it in managing social burdens. For instance, as the state withdrew from funding education and healthcare, the burden of care was shifted onto women within families—without institutional support or incentives. Despite the increased participation of women in the labor market, the majority faced various forms of exploitation, including low wages, informal employment, and lack of social insurance, contributing to what is commonly referred to as the "feminization of poverty."
Meanwhile, the Arab feminist landscape underwent a significant transformation. Feminist organizations expanded, but many became reliant on international funding and faced pressure to adopt priorities and agendas that were more "fundable" than rooted in grassroots struggles. The collective pursuit of gender equality was gradually replaced by project-based approaches and measurable outcomes, diluting the political character of feminist discourse.
In Nancy Fraser’s terms, Arab feminism at this stage was “smartly co opted” within the neoliberal system: it was used to beautify the state or open new markets, without having any real impact on the deep structures of discrimination and inequality. In Egypt, for example, policies of “women’s economic empowerment” were promoted in parallel with the repression of independent feminist movements. In Morocco, limited legal amendments were implemented, but they did not affect the economic system or regional inequalities. In the Gulf, economic openness was accompanied by the institutionalization of women’s roles in soft sectors, without questioning the guardianship system or the lack of political representation.
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