Feminist translation and paratextual mediation: the case of Shaarawi’s and Khalidi’s memoirs in English

This study discusses feminist translation through the English rendition of memoirs by two influential Arab feminists—Huda Shaarawi and Anbara Salam Khalidi—pivotal figures in Arab feminist discourse. The study builds on von Flotow’s framework of feminist translation strategies and Genette’s (2001) concept of paratexts as ‘thresholds of interpretation’ to analyze how book covers, titles, and translator’s introduction, preface, and acknowledgment served as tools for presenting Arab feminist writers in English translation. The analysis reveals that both book covers and titles undergo changes, presenting two different versions tailored to Western readership to capture their attention and align with their expectations. Furthermore, the paratext produced by Shaarawi’s female feminist translators was used as an arena for showcasing and advocating feminist ideology and discourse. Conversely, the sole paratext produced by Khalidi’s male translators, namely, the acknowledgment, demonstrated less engagement with feminist principles. The paper concludes by advocating for the development of feminist translation theory, which articulates and examines feminist translation ethics. This framework can guide intervention strategies for translating texts to ensure that translators do not overstep their boundaries by assuming the author’s role in ways that may be undesirable.