Synaptic

This assignment, titled the “News & Lit Essay,” asked students in my Lit & Film of the Middle East course to select a current event/news story related to the Middle East as a region and reflect on how three of our course texts provided perspective on this event and its coverage. The essays are supposed to include two sections: one on the current event itself, and another on the course texts and the perspective those course texts provide. This student provided a rich and passionate look at how our course texts speak to the exciting developments in women’s soccer in the Arab world. I appreciated the care with which she covered the current event, but also the detailed analyses she provided of the three books/films she analyzed.

-Dr. Kate Nesbit

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SECTION ONE: Morocco and the 2023 World Cup

It was August 3, 2023. After a hard-fought win over Columbia in the FIFA World Cup, the Morocco Women’s national soccer team waits on the field, huddled around a few phones here and there. They were watching the closing minutes of the South Korea v. Germany game, which would determine if they moved on to the Round of 16. Suddenly, shouts of excitement can be heard from the field, the Moroccan women are seen embracing each other, and their coach is in tears as he runs around hugging his players. It is moments like these that sports enthusiasts live for, a true underdog story. Morocco was the lowest ranking team to qualify for the World Cup, and they beat out Germany for a spot in the Round of 16. This was also historical for Germany; it was the first time their team did not see the pitch past the group stage of the cup.

One of the most striking parts of this story is it was Morocco’s first time qualifying for the tournament. The news page Al Jazeera clarified that not only was it the first time a women’s Moroccan team made it to the World Cup, but it was also the “first Arab country to qualify” (Al Jazeera). The women on this team not only represented their own country, but also took on the role of representing the Arab world, specifically Arab women. The year before, the men’s team also qualified for the men’s World Cup for the first time. We see here that Morocco is paving the way for future Middle Eastern, Arab teams to find their way into the World Cup.

In an article on how gender equality effects international soccer performances, a quantitative analysis of several variables such as GDP and labor force participation rate (LFPR), determined that the level of gender equality in each country effects the success of the women’s national team. Although Morocco maintained a consistent equality and success rate between both the men’s and women’s team, there were other Arab countries brought forth that have a higher discrepancy, specifically with the LFPR (Bredtmann 301). The top five teams who have demonstrated the biggest improvement in equality, also implying the lack of in the recent past, include Algeria, Afghanistan, Algeria, Jordan, and Pakistan (Bredtmann 301). There are Middle Eastern countries in this list, which implies a promising future for Middle Eastern women’s soccer, in Arab countries extending past Morocco.

Women’s soccer was not always accessible, or available in general, in Morocco. In a CNN news article about the Moroccan women’s team, some of the players commented on their experience with soccer growing up. Women’s captain Ghizlane Chebbak played with boys growing up, and “didn’t join a girls’ team until she was a teenager” (Howorth). When she was ready to go professional, she first had to move to Egypt to do so, professional soccer in Morocco was not in a solid spot for her as a player. However, she came back and with her talent and leadership led many Moroccan teams to victory and records of success. This did not happen for a long time, the preexisting condition of women’s soccer in Morocco, and in the Middle East overall.

Without the drive of Moroccan women to make professional soccer something noteworthy and valuable to the country, nothing would have come of it, and girls across the Middle East would be without an opportunity to play a beautiful game. In an article on the “soft power” of Arab women’s soccer, the use of social media by Middle Eastern clubs is analyzed. Overall, it was found that through using Instagram, these women’s teams are changing the conversation of soccer in the Middle East (AlKhalifa and Farello 1). They are doing this through what the author calls “soft power,” which is the “ability to advance interests through persuasion without coercion and has often been described in its capacity to aid foreign policy” (AlKhalifa and Farello 1). They engage with neighboring countries who have developing soccer programs, as well as countries with well-developed programs, like the United States (AlKhalifa and Farello 22). Middle Eastern soccer clubs, through the use of Instagram create messages of acceptance and representation through the players they choose to display on social media.

The second part to this current news issue is the theme of representation in clothing, specifically head coverings. Morocco obtained another newsworthy achievement through one of their defenders, Nouhaila Benzina. She is the first Muslim woman to wear a hijab at the World Cup (Al Jazeera). FIFA reallowed hijabs to be worn in March of 2014, after a few years of banning it. Despite this happening almost ten years ago, Benzina was the first to wear a head covering, as well as other modest clothing, during the World Cup. As a player she made a difference on the pitch, and she did the same off the pitch. Fans across the world applauded Benzina and her teammates for their bravery, hard work, and strength, as pointed out in the Al Jazeera article.

Although most people had positive things to say about Benzina and her choice to veil, there were a few negative reactions. A portion of the backlash came from French reporters and policy creators. For example, in another link provided in the Al Jazeera article used, a video was posted of a French reporter stating the hijab “is an incredible regression,” and that by Benzina wearing it, she is telling her teammates they are “indecent” for not covering in the same way (Al Jazeera). Comments like this call to attention the continued need to learn more about veiling and the implications of the debate at hand. It also reveals the importance of clothing, and its ability to empower people, or the exact opposite. In a case study on the sport hijab, one of the main takeaways was, “We continue to realize that what we wear speaks volumes about us” (Fuller 129). This can be observed through the lens of religion, socioeconomic status, physical health, and so on. For Benzina, her choice to veil is due to her Muslim faith, and in veiling she is making a public display of faith. Clothing can be used as comment, which is what Linda Fuller is getting at (120). Benzina is not trying to make a statement against uptight French reporters or old FIFA rules but is instead commenting on her personal choice to follow Islam. Benzina and the rest of the Moroccan women’s team provides representation and hope for other young women in the Middle East aspiring to be professional soccer players one day.

SECTION TWO: What perspective can literature and film provide about these events?

Literature and films from and accurately depicting the Middle East speak to the importance of representation and community in sports. From the class work covered this semester, three artifacts will be discussed: Farah Nabulsi’s short film The Present, Nadine Labaki’s Lebanese film Caramel, and Leila Chatti’s poem “Muslim Girlhood.” The Present (2019) is a short film depicting the daily life of a Palestinian father and his daughter, who spend an entire day looking for a birthday gift for their wife and mother and have to demonstrate extreme resilience against oppressive Israeli powers. Caramel (2007) is a Lebanese film following the lives of four women who work in a hair salon together and displays sweet community and day to day struggles of these women, similar to the community that can be found on a soccer team. Lastly, “Muslim Girlhood” is a poem about growing up as a Muslim girl in America, and thus points out the importance of representation and inclusion. These three course texts all point to a different aspect of the Morocco women’s national soccer team and their story; feeling empowered to create change in oppressive or unequitable scenarios, the value of community and teamwork, and the power of representation for Middle Eastern women in the public sphere.

To start, the Morocco women’s team sets a good example of what it means to advocate for oneself and acting through setbacks and inequality. One of the news articles discussed above mentions how multiple Moroccan women had to advocate for opportunities to play soccer in their country. The team captain, Ghizlane Chebbak, mentioned that for a while, everything was a fight; a fight to gain access to stadiums, a fight for club funding, a fight for overall representation (Howorth). Her refusal to give up, alongside many other Moroccan women, is what has allowed the success of women’s soccer in Morocco. Similarly, the daughter in the short film The Present demonstrates what it looks like to be empowered to act, rather than remain discouraged in a situation of difficulty. Near the end of the film, her father has enough, and begins to yell at the Israeli guards in front of her. The film utilizes a close-up shot here, which focuses on the father and his anger (21:45). Since a close-up shot is used, what is happening behind him is hidden, until he turns around and realizes his daughter has left. Amid the arguing, the daughter decides to take their present around the fence on her own. She does not appear afraid, she quietly pushes the fridge past the guards and the enclosure, and the film ends with her father catching up with her as they finally wheel to their present home. The situation her and her father were in was bleak and discouraging, but the girl was inspired to act, not in violence but with confidence and a peace that is astounding. Just as the little girl was inspired to act by a painful situation, so were many of the Moroccan women’s soccer players. Because of their action, the little girl got their birthday present home for her mother, and the women’s soccer players created opportunities to play soccer in their home country.

The Morocco women’s soccer team provides a beautiful image of community, as seen in their celebration after they made it into the round of 16. Having a supportive community like this is empowering and encouraging for women and is a framework for future community in the Middle East. Another positive example of feminine community in the Middle East can be found in the film Caramel, directed by Nadine Labaki. This film features multiple scenes of the girls banding together in times of heartbreak and joy, supporting each other all the way. One example of this is when the character Layale is ghosted by her secret boyfriend on their anniversary. The scene begins with her lying alone in a sketchy hotel room, and then makes a cut to the door knocking. She opens it to find her three coworkers, and closest friends, there to make fun of her bad baking but mostly to give her shoulders to cry on. Dolly shots are used in this scene, going from Layale on the bed, to Jamale and Nisrine sitting next to her, and Rima sitting in the corner with the cake (52:05). Although this creates a fragmented, disunified image, the dialogue and action connects them. Rima tries the cake, and in her disgust passes it to Jamale. This passing of the cake connects the two Dolly shots. Dialogue is also present in this scene, with Layale verbally processing her feelings and her friends listening intently, but also with an air of humor. The connection created through dialogue is strong, and they bond through their shared struggles. The images of community found in it are profound, and they point to the importance of women having a support system. The community of the national women’s soccer team in Morocco speaks to this as well, they work together to create the best outcomes for each other and speak highly of one another too.

The representation of women sprinkled throughout the Moroccan women’s national soccer team is encouraging for other young girls, in the Middle East and across the world. Having the opportunity to witness women do extraordinary things, and further, women who value the same things you do, inspires girls and young women to dare to do the same. The call for more representation resounds around the world, as we see in the poem “Muslim Girlhood.” The poet, Leila Chatti, describes her experience as an Arab girl living in America. Her father “drove fifty miles to buy me [her] a doll like a Barbie / because it looked like me, short brown hair underneath her hijab” (Chatti 19-20). Her father had to drive miles to find a doll, not even a true Barbie, that resembled even slightly his beautiful Muslim daughter. This poem overall demonstrates how she felt like an outcast in America, and she did not have anyone to look up to or feel encouraged by, except for her family. This cry for help, seen in a father’s desperate hunt to find a doll, is what the Moroccan women’s team answers. Specifically, the first woman to wear a hijab at the world cup, Nouhaila Benzina, helps represent other Muslim girls in the Middle East who have a similar dream of success. It is important to note that the role of representation does not fall on one individual, but rather many people who combine their efforts. Benzina is just one example of this.

Another pro athlete to do this is Ibtihaj Muhammad, an American fencer. In the case study mentioned in section one, her story is shared. After making waves as the first Arab American to wear a hijab at the Olympics, Barbie became interested in her story. This led the Barbie company to create a doll in her likeness, the first Barbie doll to wear a hijab (Fuller 126). In the rows of white, blond dolls, the Barbie in Ibtihaj’s likeness stands out, in a positive way. Now, Arab American girls longing for a doll that looks like them have it in their grasp. It is also bigger than a doll. This step towards inclusion and representation indicates a shift in the narrative for Middle Eastern women, not just in Morocco or those who have immigrated to the United States. Having a doll with a hijab and seeing a woman wearing modest clothing while playing a professional soccer, encourages women in the Middle East to feel empowered in their choice to veil, or not to.

This story of success for a woman’s soccer team from Morocco is also a success story for women across the Middle East. There has been increased representation of women choosing to veil, examples of feminine community that encourages women to seek it out, and women who have demonstrated resilience and action in inequality. The image of the Morocco women celebrating on the pitch after they made it to the round of 16 is ingrained in many soccer lover’s minds, mine included. The story painted in this specific moment is just a small part of a story of commitment, love, and positive change.

Works Cited

AlKhalifa, Hussa K, and Anna Farello. “The Soft Power of Arab Women’s Football: Changing Perceptions and Building Legitimacy Through Social Media,” International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, vol. 13, no. 2, June 2021, pp. 241-257. https://doi.org/10.1080/19406940.2020.1854327.

Bredtmann, Julia, et al. “The Effect of Gender Equality on International Soccer Performance.” International Journal of Sport Finance, vol. 11, no. 4, Nov. 2016, pp. 288-309.

Caramel. Directed by Nadine Labaki, performance by Nadine Labaki, Les Films des Tournelles, 2007. Vimeo app.

Chatti, Leila. “Muslim Girlhood.” Tunsiya/Amrikiya, Bull City Press, 2018, p. 3.

Fuller, Linda. “Athlete Activism Relative to Clothing: A Case Study of Ibtihaj Muhammad and the Sport Hijab.” Athlete Activism: Contemporary Perspectives, edited by Rory Magrath, Routledge, 2022. Routledge Research in Sport, Culture and Society, 10.4324/9781003140290.

Howorth, Alasdair. “Atlas Lionesses: The Moroccan Women Soccer Revolution and the Players Inspiring a Generation of Girls.” CNN, 7 Aug. 2023, https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/07/sport/moroccan-soccer-players-inspiring-a-generation-spt-intl/index.html. Accessed 13 Dec. 2023.

“Moroccan Joy As National Team Makes History at Women’s World Cup.” Al Jazeera, 3 Aug. 2023, https://www. aljazeera.com/news/2023/8/3/moroccan-joy-as-national-team-makes-history-at-womens-world-cup. Accessed 13 Dec. 2023.

The Present. Directed by Farah Nabulsi, Philistine Films, 2020. Netflix app.