Queering identity, querying self: a decolonial feminist reading of the œuvre of Nina Bouraoui

Savage, Daisy (2025). Queering identity, querying self: a decolonial feminist reading of the œuvre of Nina Bouraoui. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

This thesis innovatively brings Queer of Colour and Decolonial Feminist theories into conversation with the works of Nina Bouraoui in order to achieve three interrelated aims: to critically analyse and re-evaluate the portrayal of identity in Bouraoui’s oeuvre; to examine whether Bouraoui’s writings themselves can be read as a form of Decolonial Feminism; and to propose the establishment of non-hierarchical, rhizomatic networks of feminist voices that work toward creating a society which is more aware of, and seeks to dismantle, the multiple oppressions faced by so many.

Bouraoui, a French-Algerian queer writer whose work navigates themes of race, gender, sexuality, and belonging, provides rich source material for exploring complex, intersectional identities that exist at the margins of dominant cultural narratives. By exploring her writings through the lens of Queer of Colour critique and Decolonial Feminism, this thesis will interrogate the ways in which Bouraoui constructs, resists, and reimagines identity, particularly in relation to colonial legacies and queer subjectivities. Particularly suited to this conversation with Bouraoui are the works of Chicana feminists such as Gloria Anzaldúa and Cherríe Moraga, and Black lesbian writers like Audre Lorde and bell hooks.

Finally, the project argues for the need to foster non-hierarchical, rhizomatic networks of feminist discourse, inspired by Bouraoui’s resistance to fixed identities and singular truths. Celebrating transnational coalition building, this thesis envisions new forms of feminist solidarity that transcend boundaries of race, gender, and nationality.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):