Feminist Issues and Significance in Contemporary Arabic Songs (An Analytical Study)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35516/Hum.2026.10996Keywords:
Feminist issues, Arab women, contemporary Arabic songs, violence against women, content analysis.Abstract
Objectives: The study aimed to analyze feminist issues and their implications in contemporary Arabic songs over the past decade and to identify the most prominent feminist themes addressed. It also sought to understand the impact of these songs on societal awareness regarding women's issues.
Methods: A descriptive and analytical approach was employed, using a content analysis questionnaire to examine 30 Arabic songs released between 2015 and 2025 that depict Arab women negatively. The sample was selected to reflect the cultural and media diversity of the Arab world during the study period.
Results: The study found that Egyptian songs constituted the highest proportion of negative content toward women (64%), followed by Lebanese songs (20%). Disparaging discourse was prevalent, with phrases belittling women comprising 32.72% of the total, reinforcing an inferior image of women in popular culture. Verbal and physical harassment were each present in 11.11% of the content, while sexual innuendo appeared in 5.56%.
Conclusions: Arabic songs often include portrayals of women as controlled (9.88%) or threatening (6.79%), reinforcing patriarchal attitudes and limiting women's autonomy.
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