A Comparative Study of the French and English Translations of Gender References in The Story of Zahra: Under the Lens of Feminist Translation

This study examines the transfer of gendered references in the English and French translations of Ḥikāyat Zahrah (1980) by Lebanese author Hanan al-Shaykh, rendered by Peter Ford (1986) and Yves Gonzales-Quijano (1999), respectively. Through a comparative analysis of the three versions, the research assesses how representations of gender and sexuality move from a local Arabic context to transnational ones. It explores how Arabic references to female sexuality, agency, and relationships, specifically through the character of Zahra, are preserved, altered, or omitted in translation, and considers the potential effects of these shifts on reception in the target cultures. The study highlights the translators’ choices and the extent to which they reflect, resist, or adapt to the dominant ideologies and feminist discourses of their respective linguistic and cultural environments. It argues that translation is not a neutral act but one that significantly shapes the portrayal of women and gender dynamics across cultures. Ultimately, the findings underscore the importance of context and ideology in feminist translation, revealing how translation can either subvert or reinforce patriarchal narratives depending on how women’s voices are rendered for new audiences.