One of my favorite classes thus far has been Women Studies 110. I learned in that class a lot about myself, and about women. I learned about the existence and study of a field I never thought existed! It was in this class that I flirted with the ideas of feminism.
I sifted through those memories as I read Galit Hasan Rokem's essay on Jerusalem. Her article titled "The mother of all cities: A feminist perspective on Jerusalem" discussed many feminine labels Jerusalem has been described with through the ages. She eludes to the patriarchy of Jerusalem, the possessiveness men have had of the city as they ascribed her to multiple monogamous marriages. Dr. Hasan Rokem in the article recalls how Jerusalem has been described as "mother, sister, and daugther." , "and violated virgin". One thing she doesn't make clear are references to bodies of literature that employ such terms in describing the city.
I sifted through those memories as I read Galit Hasan Rokem's essay on Jerusalem. Her article titled "The mother of all cities: A feminist perspective on Jerusalem" discussed many feminine labels Jerusalem has been described with through the ages. She eludes to the patriarchy of Jerusalem, the possessiveness men have had of the city as they ascribed her to multiple monogamous marriages. Dr. Hasan Rokem in the article recalls how Jerusalem has been described as "mother, sister, and daugther." , "and violated virgin". One thing she doesn't make clear are references to bodies of literature that employ such terms in describing the city.
I also through the reading remembered Mecca (The Holiest city for Muslims). Mecca like all revered symbols and ideas take on many names. In Arabic literature Mecca is sometimes referred to as أم القرى , "the mother of all villages". Could this be mere coincidence?
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