If you’re active on social media, you’ve probably read at least one of her fierce poems. And if you’re a voracious reader, you’ve definitely heard of The List of Shit That Made Me a Feminist book series. Today, I’m talking to Farida D., a writer, poet, and researcher whose work has shaped conversations on patriarchy, sexuality, intersectional feminism, and resistance. Through a body of work that both names oppression and pushes back against it, she has guided countless readers through unlearning and transformation. Over to Farida.
1. Beyond the powerful words and the rage, who is Farida D.?
I’m an Arab gender researcher and poet, studying Arab women’s everyday oppressions for over a decade. My work has changed my life. Through the process of my research, I broke up with my hijab, set my high heels on fire, and authored a series of books!
2. You’re known for your poems on women’s sexuality, the patriarchy, and gender-based violence. Is there something you wrote that scared you, yet you published it anyway?
What’s scary is not being allowed to feel our fears and trust them to guide us towards unlearning. Also, we’re not readily given the language to clearly understand the systems and structures that create our fears and thrive on our silence. We’re taught to question ourselves instead of the oppressor, to blame ourselves instead of the system.
My writing helps expose those fears.
To me, writing always feels necessary, not scary. Living without questioning and watching your life pass by in service to the patriarchy is what’s scary.
3. How has writing under a pen name helped you to express yourself?
A follower once told me that she was really curious to know who I am. At the same time, whenever she comes across a woman speaking out against injustice, she stops and wonders, “Could that be Farida D.?” That story touched me.
When you focus on my words, you will notice that I am not anonymous. I am any and every woman out there using her voice as a tool for change. You know me, I could be you, and there are millions of us.
4. Can you give us a sneak peek into what you’re working on right now? What can fans expect from you next?
After I completed my 10-book poetry series, The List of Shit That Made Me a Feminist, I shifted my focus to working on pocket books. They are centered on one subject, and you can easily fit them in your pocket/purse so that they can keep you company when you’re out and about.
Two of these are already published. The first one, 69 positions to lose your virginity, exposes the harms of virginity culture. The second one, Boy Math, is named after the viral meme and is packed with patriarchal norms that don’t add up. More pocketbooks will be out in 2026, so keep an eye on my website and Instagram.
Farida D. is an Arab gender researcher and writer who examines women’s everyday oppressions through poetry and cultural critique. She lives online at https://www.faridad.com/.
