Spaces of Resistance and Identity: Exploring Female Spatiality in Susan Abulhawa's The Blue Between Sky and Water

Abstract

This paper explores the intersection of space, gender, and identity through the lens of spatial feminism in Susan Abulhawa’s The Blue Between Sky and Water (2015). It examines how the novel’s female protagonists, Nazmiyeh and Nur, navigate and transform spaces shaped by patriarchal, political, and social constraints. The study highlights how spaces function not merely as static backdrops but as dynamic, relational constructs that shape and are shaped by the identities of those who inhabit them. It also delves into the use of magical realism as a narrative device that transcends physical and social boundaries, enabling resistance and identity reclamation. Through the lens of spatial feminism, this paper situates Abulhawa’s novel within the broader contexts of diaspora studies and Palestinian literature, emphasizing how women’s resilience and agency emerge in the face of oppression and displacement. The analysis underscores the pivotal role of storytelling and memory in preserving cultural identity, asserting that women in Abulhawa’s work are central to reclaiming spaces and histories. Ultimately, this study argues that the dynamic nature of space profoundly shapes female identities, offering insights into the transformative potential of spatiality in literature and reality.