Dima Ayoub

A lot of people told me this was a great course, and while I do find the subject matter interesting—especially since the readings break down different aspects of gender issues in the Arab world—I’m not sure I got as much out of the class as I expected. First, the class is scheduled pretty late (7:30 pm to 10:30 pm in Spring 2025), which can be exhausting. In the beginning, Professor Ayoub lectured, but later on, we were made to run the discussions ourselves, which sometimes made the class feel even longer. The material is quite theoretical and very much a “liberal arts” course that gives you a broad perspective on the world and how to not look at things from a western-centric perspective. However, if you’re not particularly interested in philosophy or anthropology, you might find it less engaging. That said, the final project is very flexible and can actually be a lot of fun.

A lot of people told me this was a great course, and while I do find the subject matter interesting—especially since the readings break down different aspects of gender issues in the Arab world—I’m not sure I got as much out of the class as I expected. First, the class is scheduled pretty late (7:30 pm to 10:30 pm in Spring 2025), wh …Read more

This is an intellectually stimulating course and Professor Ayoub is an incredible instructor and mentor. The readings were very interesting. We were required to attend a couple of events and screenings outside of class, which was a bit much during the busier weeks, but it was worth it!

This course, which was focused on understanding the Palestinian experience through literature, was eye-opening and deeply interesting. Professor Ayoub is an incredibly thoughtful, kind, and effective instructor. She is excellent in helping students arrive at their own understanding of the material, and combines whole-class discussion with small group work to allow for a richer in class experience. This class has a lot of reading, as well as some film screenings. The material is fascinating, and as long as you keep up with the reading, the class discussions will be insightful and illuminating. I highly recommend this class.

This course, which was focused on understanding the Palestinian experience through literature, was eye-opening and deeply interesting. Professor Ayoub is an incredibly thoughtful, kind, and effective instructor. She is excellent in helping students arrive at their own understanding of the material, and combines whole-class discussion …Read more