The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Political Feminism Programme launched the feminist podcast, “Masaha”, in 2019 in order to provide a space for feminist debates that are built on a transnational, anti-capitalist feminist critique of the socioeconomic, cultural and political status quo in the MENA region.
The crises we have been witnessing around the world highlighted existing social and economic inequalities that feminists have been calling to address over many decades. Within the context of the MENA region, feminist movements have been working tirelessly to fight the patriarchal and capitalist structures that marginalize women, migrants and workers and to come up with alternative models that are relevant to the context of the region and that are more equitable and ensure the protection of the rights of individuals and communities.
The “Masaha” podcast invites activists and women’s rights defenders to shed the light on and discuss arising social, economic and environmental issues, provide feminist critiques upon these issues, and offer practical alternatives and solutions that inform feminist mobilizing across the region. Through discussing topics that are relevant to our day-to-day lives and experiences and to the ways we navigate the world around us, the podcast presents feminist knowledge in a way that is accessible and relatable to everyone across the region. The podcast is published by Sowt, a podcast platform based in Jordan with a broad reach across the MENA Region
Since its launching in 2019, FES has produced two seasons. The first season covered topics related to the future of work offering critiques of current economic structures, and addressing topics such as care work, the gendered impact of economic policies, impact of infrastructure of women’s access to services and opportunities, work and intersectionality, among other topics. A series of episodes also tackled the impact of COVID-19 on women in the region. The first season of 17 episodes received more than 180,000 listens from around the region notably from countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE, Oman, Jordan, Algeria and Kuwait.
Building on this success and broad reach, FES is currently producing a second season which focusses more on different schools of feminism and the relevant feminist movements across the region, their successes, shortfalls and future opportunities.
Gender and Feminism Office
97 Monot Street, Nakhle Building
P.O. Box 11-6107
Beirut 1107-2210, Lebanon