Cleansing Fire—Language, Gender, and Tribal Critique in Saudi Feminist Poetry: The Case of Hind al-Mutairi’s “The Romantic Spring Protest”

This study examines Hind al-Mutairi’s 2015 poem, “The Romantic Spring Protest”, as a feminist act of resistance against Saudi Arabia’s tribal patriarchy. The poem critiques gender inequalities and restrictive tribal customs, highlighting the challenges women face. By analysing linguistic and performative elements, this study explores how Saudi women poets challenge patriarchal norms. Despite growing interest in Arab feminist literature, Saudi women’s poetic resistance remains inadequately studied, particularly in performative contexts. This study employs textual, performance, and reception analysis. A close reading reveals al-Mutairi’s use of repetition, metaphor, and verb tense shifts as defiant strategies. Performance analysis examines her Jeddah International Book Fair recitation, where vocal delivery amplified the poem’s impact. Reception analysis assesses media reactions and institutional backlash, showing how poetry provokes discourse. The poem’s transition from submission to rebellion exposes patriarchal contradictions. Using Butler’s performativity and Foucault’s power-knowledge, this study argues poetry is both literary and performative resistance, reshaping Saudi gender discourse.