Badriyyah Alsabah is a second-year student in the AM in Middle Eastern Studies program.
How did you become interested in Middle Eastern Studies?
Having an upbringing grounded in the Middle East, specifically Kuwait, afforded me a consciousness around just how important it is to pay attention to current political and social occurrences in the Middle East. When I began my undergraduate degree, I was sure that I wanted to major in psychology, as I have always been interested in studying behavior. During my time at Smith College, which has an exceedingly interdisciplinary liberal arts curriculum, I was able to take an intro to Islam course with professor Suleiman Mourad. You could say this was the awakening of my interests in Middle Eastern Studies. I decided to minor in Religion, and took a variety of classes in the field. I realized that marrying my knowledge of psychology with my understanding of religion, would benefit my approach to understanding and studying the Middle East. I also have a vested commitment and responsibility as a Middle Eastern woman myself to do everything in my power to make life for Middle Eastern women more equitable. During my summers, I interned at the Middle East Institute in Washington, D.C., and after graduating I worked in UN Women in Cairo, Egypt, for a year prior to beginning my graduate degree. My interest in and commitment to studying the Middle East has not wavered since that first religion class.
Why did you choose CMES?
I chose CMES for a variety of reasons. I am lucky in that I have had flexibility and support in my undergraduate studies, and I was aware that CMES offers an interdisciplinary program where I can focus on my topic of choice, gender, while still exploring other schools and departments and gaining an immeasurable amount of knowledge and insight from professors and other students. During my visit, I was impressed with the amount of care and attention given to the incoming students, and I at once felt welcome. Community is very important to me and I knew I could cultivate a new home for myself at CMES, and get involved in ways that fulfill me and my goal to realize change and potential for women in the Middle East.
What are your research interests?
My research interests lie predominantly in anthropology, gender, and religious studies. I am interested in issues of piety, propriety, and gender situated in women’s bodies, both historically and in the contemporary moment. Having spent my formative years in Kuwait, and being Kuwaiti myself, I have always felt connected to my home and community. I am interested in exploring Kuwaiti history as it applies to conceptions of honor and shame, and looking at how religion has influenced ideas around the aforementioned in relation to women’s bodies and lives. Kuwait is a standout in the Gulf when it comes to the role women play in society, economically, socially, and politically, and I aim to explore these specificities. In my research, I seek to question certain concepts and ways of knowing. I take critical feminist theory and gender theory, which have usually been formulated by White western elites and used to analyse Muslim and Arab women, and seek to appropriately map these theories onto the target community in a culturally relevant and sensitive way. This work can be seen as an intervention into accepted and assumed knowledge about Kuwait in the aims of de-exceptionalizing the Gulf. I want to give a voice to Kuwaiti and Arab women and create a space for them to produce knowledge about their own lived experiences, playing a role in the creation of cultural meaning and subjectivity. My work is a space for resignification and I hope to continually work towards an equitable society across all levels.
What do you like best about studying at Harvard?
My favorite thing about studying at Harvard is the unbelievable amount of knowledge that I have gained since I have been here. I truly feel as though my capacity for learning and understanding has grown and I am able to pursue my academic goals with a more precise focus. I have also had several wonderful professors who have taken time out of their busy schedule to mentor me and guide me, allowing me to be my best academic self.
What do you like best about living in Cambridge?
Cambridge is such a great place to live, having the perfect balance between lively, homey, and quiet. There is always something to do and both the Harvard community and Cambridge community can be felt strongly here. I appreciate the diversity in food options and cultural events.
What travel/research opportunities have you pursued during your time at Harvard?
As my research is based in my home country I have not necessarily had to travel to other countries in the region for academic purposes. This being said, I am pursuing research in Kuwait over the upcoming break and have felt extremely supported by CMES.
What kinds of extracurriculars have you pursued at Harvard?
Doing things outside of schoolwork are super important for my mental health and I have enjoyed joining a Harvard volleyball league and playing recreationally. I am also the co-president of the Harvard Middle Eastern Cultural Association, which brings together students at CMES and hosts cultural events to raise awareness about what is happening in the region and create a space for people to enjoy Middle Eastern culture.
What are your plans after finishing your degree?
Upon completing my degree I hope to work within the field of gender and the Middle East while preparing to apply for a PhD. I have already had experience working at UN Women in the Middle East, and hope to continue my commitment to NGO work and helping those that are less fortunate. It is important to me that this is done in a sustainable and ethical way, so whatever work that I do, this will be the focus.
What advice would you offer a prospective student?
Well my first piece of advice would be to apply to CMES! I am so happy with my choice among the other options that I had and I am very confident that I made the right choice. Furthermore, if you are interested in working with a certain professor, email them to set up a meeting to discuss your interests. Harvard can seem like an intimidating space but I guarantee that it will feel like home in a heartbeat.