I've been excited to publish this essay by @mlynxqualey @newlinesmag for some time. The core of her argument is that the characters and stories of Arab writers are changed in translation to reflect ideas and expectations of western editors and readers 1/ https://newlinesmag.com/review/who-youre-reading-when-youre-reading-arab-women/

Qualey's argument is part of a much wider debate taking place in the publishing / translation industry about how much translation changes the work, which she often explores @arablit 2/

Specifically with regard to Arab women and stories from the Middle East, these expectations can change how the work is read, and indeed what the work is trying to say. As Qualey writes: 3/

It also changes how the book is sold - a glance at the covers of translations from the region focuses on covered faces, references to sex, danger. There’s a particularly puerile interest in the sex lives of Arabs that dates back decades. 4/

Qualey has some excellent examples in her essay, some of which are very illuminating and worth reading in full. It's a careful demonstration of how the words of Arab women in translation are not yet getting through 5/ https://newlinesmag.com/review/who-youre-reading-when-youre-reading-arab-women/