Identity Formation of Muslim Women in a Multi-cultural Society in Reference to Monica Ali, Brick Lane and Leila Aboulela, Minaret

Abstract

This work deals with the issue of identity renegotiation of Muslim women that has recently become a crucial subject, especially after the attacks of 11th September 2001. Muslim women are subject to different types of harassment as they struggle to define their identity in Britain‘s multicultural society. Two novels have been tackled to deal with this issue: Brick Lane (2003) by Monica Ali and Minaret (2005) by Leila Aboulela. These two novels highlight the challenge that Muslim women faced to negotiate their identity; and thus, they refute the misrepresentations that the West used against them and their religion. This study intends to present female literature that aims at writing back to Western discourse. It draws attention to the complexities of Muslim women‘s identities and experiences in multi-cultural societies. The protagonists in both novels are women, who seek to redefine their identity by negotiating private and public issues. The research demonstrates differences concerning Muslim women‘s attachment to their culture in asserting their identity. The protagonist of Brick Lane prefers to combine British culture with her Bangladeshi culture to create a modern identity whereas the main character of Minaret defines her identity by preserving her culture of origin