About
Ph.D. Program: Arabic literature
Ahd is an interdisciplinary scholar, who predominantly studies gender, literature, and history in the gulf. Ahd's dissertation revolves around contemporary Saudi women's writing, narration, and oral histories. In it, she examines multiple forms of narrative, ranging from spoken narratives to literary texts to digital blogs/articles, podcasts, and films. Using anthropological and literary approaches, Ahd examines the ways that women's narrations contribute to the creation - and transgression - of gender norms within specific cultural contexts. Relatedly, she is interested in examining the relationship of Saudi women's narratives to the larger narratives present in western scholarship and media about Arab and Muslim women. Ahd is very invested in public facing scholarship, and in using intellectual pursuits to better our communities. Her research actively seeks to create knowledge that can benefit her local community in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Ahd is the founder and executive director of Jahanamiya, a Saudi organization that publishes and archives Saudi women's stories, whilst simultaneously offering educational programming that caters to the specific interests and needs of women on the ground in Saudi Arabia. Jahanamiya works to support, educate, and empower women at multiple stages of life, encouraging them to become their best selves - and thus to benefit their communities - by learning from one another, building community, and sharing their stories.
