IHSAN YOUSSEF - DOHA Feminist literary movement in the Arab world may be a new phenomenon, but it is taking shape, and fast.

That was the outcome of the first session of Arab Women creativity symposium, which was organised on the sidelines of Doha Freedom and Creativity Festival, at the Grand Regency hotel here on Thursday. Yemeni poet Huda Abblan and Saudi poet Dr. Ashjan Hinddi, along with the Tunisian actress and writer Jalylah Bakaar, addressed the opening session.

Abblan is the first Yemeni woman poet who became the secretary-general of Yemeni Authors and Writers Union. The session was chaired by Huda al Muaimi.

Abblan afforded a glimpse of freedom and creativity all along the feminist literary experience in Yemen. “The feminist literary movement has echoed the social and cultural life in Yemen that is based on marginalizing every sense of ambition and creativity on the part of women,” she said, adding: “Creativity and breaking cultural and social taboos have for long been restricted to men. “Yet, the emergence of two liberal revolutions in Yemen, and its call for radical changes towards freedom and equality, paved the way for the emergence of feminist literary movement in the Arabian Peninsula. They excelled in poetry, narration and criticism.”

Saudi poet Dr. Ashjan Hinddi stressed the fact that freedom and creativity were the two wings of poetry without which it was difficult to cross the boundaries. “The real poet is he whose wings mount above his reach. Poets of imperishable fame are those who are free at the very core of their souls.”

She said Dr Hinddi verified that founding a free poetic self was an integral part of creativity process that could be accomplished by the two complementary roles of men and women. The first session concluded with the Tunisian actor and writer Jalylah Bakaar.

She narrated her theatrical experience and the challenges she encountered as an actor and theatrical writer.

“The main challenge for me was the inferiority perception to the actresses. Despite the legal, social and educational progress and the openness to the other cultures in Tunisia, the people’s attitude have not kept pace with changes.” Jalylah Bakaar added.