La mujer madura en la literatura árabe: mitos y realidad

Abstract

This study shows an outline of the role that the mature woman plays in the Arabic culture, mainly thoroughout the different manifestations of the Arabic literature, both in prose and verse, during its classic and contemporary periods. This is presented under different aspects: Evaluation of longevity; phisycal aspect and sexual atraction; white hair; menstruation; the mature woman in the family; the mother; single women and spinsters; the role of the mother-in-law and of the grandmother; traditional works; freedom of activities and social acknowledgment. The Sunna; the most representative poets of the Arabic classic literature; the tale a Thousand and one nights, key work in the compilation; erotical essays; Nayib Mahfuz's Trilogy, have been the main sources for the documentation of our study.