Cultural Identity and Self-Discovery in Diaspora Literature: A Comparative Study of Female Protagonists in Randa Abdel-Fattah’s Does My Head Look Big in This? and Leila Aboulela’s Minaret

Abstract

This dissertation examines the negotiation of cultural identity as it is represented in diaspora literature, with a particular emphasis on the novels Minaret, authored by Leila Aboulela, and Does My Head Look Big in This? penned by Randa Abdel-Fattah. Through a rigorous comparative analysis, the research delves into the multifaceted ways in which the protagonists, Najwa and Amal, adeptly manoeuvre through the complexities associated with identity formation, acculturation processes, and the phenomenon of assimilation within their distinctive diasporic societies. Drawing extensively on the theoretical frameworks established by Miriam Cooke’s Muslim Feminism and Gloria Anzaldúa’s Borderlands theory, this study critically examines the cultural hurdles encountered by Muslim women residing within the diaspora. Utilizing literary and comparative analytical approaches, this dissertation demonstrates that Najwa’s individual path is marked by a crucial change from choosing to fit into the larger societal customs to a significant return to her spiritual foundations, whereas, in contrast, Amal’s conscious decision to wear the hijab symbolizes her strong stand against the expectations of assimilation and represents a declaration of her cultural autonomy. The insights provided in this dissertation are pivotal in shaping the dialogue around diaspora literature and cultural identity, revealing essential strategies of acculturation that individuals within the diaspora adopt. The dissertation concludes by emphasizing the dynamic and fluid nature of cultural identity as it exists within the diaspora, while also advocating for future scholarly research that seeks to explore additional dimensions of diasporic identity across varied cultural contexts.