Redefining stereotypes: The banlieue and female experience in Faïza Guène’s Kiffe kiffe demain

Abstract

In this article I discuss the female banlieue experience in Faïza Guène’s Kiffe kiffe demain, which describes daily life in a Parisian banlieue from the perspective of a girl with an immigrant background. In contemporary French literature the banlieues are usually portrayed either as oppressive places, where the characters feel alienated, or as non-places: according to Marc Augé meaningless spaces of transit and anonymity. Banlieue representations have also often reproduced stereotypical views about women. I argue that Kiffe kiffe demain challenges popular stereotypes and portrays a more nuanced image of the banlieue and its gendered practices. In the novel, the banlieue clearly does not evoke a sense of non-place, but rather holds personal and emotional values and meanings for the characters. The perspective of a young girl, ordinary experiences of everyday life, and a sense of community play an important role in constructing a rich image of the banlieue.