Taught at the Cairo Institute of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CILAS) for the spring semester of 2021.

Considering pleasure as both a fundamental right and a form of activism, Good Feminist, Bad Feminist, Happy Feminist is inspired by adrienne maree brown’s book Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good. Using the framework presented in the book, together, we will wonder what it means to feel satisfied and content under systems of oppression, and how we can make feminism a fulfilling and pleasurable act of justice. Each week, we will discuss a different theme, including anger, profanity, intimacy, and witchcraft. These themes are designed to assemble a toolbox that guides you through your journey to become a pleasure activist. Within the context of the current patriarchal, capitalist, ableist systems we live in, this course rejects pain as ‘a natural/normal woman experience.’ Instead, it hopes to move us a step closer towards feeling and healing, and - to quote adrienne maree brown - “being life moving towards life,” all while manifesting the joyful, accountable, feminist movements and futures we envision. 

Taught at the Cairo Institute of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CILAS) for the fall semester of 2022.

One of three courses taught as part of the Women's Studies Programme’s first semester. The programme gave space to critical reflection and engagement with topical and urgent issues that are at the intersection of the local and the global through the historical, anthropological/sociological, literary/philosophical lenses. The three courses emphasized the importance of understanding women's movements as completely embedded in cultural, political, and economic realities, and worked to inspire and develop a collective sense of what a vision of justice and equality could look and feel like.

The Feminist Philosophy & Literature course explored key theories and concepts aimed to give participants an overview of what it means to analyze a topic from a feminist perspective.

Artwork credit to Malik Elmessiry.

Taught at the Cairo Institute of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CILAS) for the spring semester of 2022.

Considering pleasure as both a fundamental right and a form of feminist activism, this course is inspired by adrienne maree brown’s book Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good. Using the framework presented in the book, together, we will explore what it means to feel satisfied and content in our bodies, and how we can make feminism a fulfilling and pleasurable act of justice. Each week, we will discuss diverse themes, from childbirth and ageing, to anger, consent, and healing. These themes are designed to assemble a toolbox that guides you through your journey to become a pleasure activist. Within the context of the current patriarchal, capitalist, ableist systems we live in, this course rejects pain as ‘a natural/normal woman experience.’ Instead, it hopes to move us a step closer towards feeling and healing in our bodies, all while manifesting the joyful feminist futures we envision.