{"id":5103,"date":"2009-11-18T00:00:24","date_gmt":"2009-11-18T08:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/muslimahmediawatch.org\/?p=5103"},"modified":"2019-01-22T17:00:17","modified_gmt":"2019-01-22T21:00:17","slug":"saudi-cartoonist-hana-hajar-sketches-a-path-for-female-cartoonists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/mmw\/2009\/11\/saudi-cartoonist-hana-hajar-sketches-a-path-for-female-cartoonists\/","title":{"rendered":"Saudi Cartoonist Hana Hajar Sketches a Path for Female Cartoonists"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Hana Hajar doesn\u2019t consider the work she does groundbreaking\u2013to her, transforming her thoughts into satirical drawings is simply a means to express herself.<\/p>\n

But as Saudi Arabia\u2019s sole prominent female cartoonist, Hajar is an undeniable trailblazer.<\/p>\n

She has worked since 2005 for the Saudi-based English language newspaper, Arab News<\/em><\/a>, where her sketches challenge everything from the role of women in Saudi society, to the war in Iraq, to the on-again, off-again status of peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians.<\/p>\n

Her cartoons are eye-catching, with many featuring vivid colors and over-pronounced facial features. But present in every sketch is Hajar\u2019s signature incisive wit.<\/p>\n

\"Image
Image via Hana Hajar's website.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In one recent cartoon<\/a> (pictured above), Hajar broaches the subject of the over-examination of Muslim women in today\u2019s society. In the sketch, a Muslim woman, cloaked in a black hijab<\/em> and abaya<\/em>, is surrounded by a throng of hands wielding oversized magnifying glasses, all pointed at her. A fuse trails out behind the woman, as another hand reaches out to light it with a match.<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"Another sketch<\/a> (pictured below) depicts two women in abayas<\/em> and niqab<\/em> riding in a taxi, as they are bombarded on all sides by men, thrusting cell phones and phone numbers at them.<\/p>\n

\"Image
Image via Hana Hajar's website. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The cartoons are humorous, insightful and offer a perspective into Saudi society that is otherwise rarely seen. But when asked to name a favorite, Hajar says she can\u2019t choose just one.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll my work for me is the best. Each one represents a [different] position, and means a lot to me,\u201d she tells MMW.<\/p>\n

For Hajar, drawing the cartoons is the easy part. Breaking into the business was somewhat harder.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne challenge is women\u2019s entry into this art, which was monopolized by men for a long period of time,\u201d she says. \u201cBut I\u2019ve found great encouragement from my family and those who are around me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Growing up in Medina, Hajar\u2019s passion for drawing began at an early age, when she found herself painting and sketching cartoons and \u201ccynical personalities\u201d for fun.<\/p>\n

What was once a hobby turned into a full-time job years later, when she was offered a position at Arab News<\/em> after winning a caricature competition.<\/p>\n

Now, Hajar churns out satirical cartoons for the newspaper as well as her personal web site, HanaHajar.com<\/a>, on a regular basis, all as a means to weigh in on whatever topic catches her eye.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the event that I want to criticize something, I find that the expression turns to drawing more than expressing it at talking,\u201d Hajar says. \u201cI find myself resorting to drawing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Though she delves into controversial topics at times, she says she hasn\u2019t experienced any negative societal or government feedback about her work. But she admits that she censors herself at time, even before her pen hits the paper.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u00a0do not do anything related to religion, or sex and the limits of this \u2013 I lay [those boundaries] down for myself,\u201d she says. \u201cI do not draw anything contrary to my identity as a Muslim. I criticize the negative aspects only.\u201d<\/p>\n

The need to practice self-censorship might explain why more women haven\u2019t yet entered the field. But Hajar says she has gotten a deluge of positive feedback from women who tell her they are happy with her work.<\/p>\n

She says she hopes to encourage them to become comfortable with expressing their opinions through art.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be the first cheerleader to [those] careers,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Saudi cartoonist Hana Hajjar chats with MMW about work, her inspiration and challenging societal taboos.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":161,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,7],"tags":[134,261,549,928,1190],"class_list":["post-5103","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-arttheater","category-comicscartoons","tag-arab-women","tag-cartoon","tag-hana-hajar","tag-muslim-women","tag-saudi-arabia"],"yoast_head":"\nSaudi Cartoonist Hana Hajar Sketches a Path for Female Cartoonists<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Saudi cartoonist Hana Hajjar chats with MMW about work, her inspiration and challenging societal taboos.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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