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By: Tololy’s Box » Blog Archive » The Voice of an Arab Woman

Tololy’s Box » Blog Archive » The Voice of an Arab Woman — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 17:09:59 +0000

[...] الانحلال What every person must do is learn for themselves and form their own opinions, and I learned this the hard way. It pains me to admit I was prejudiced without even realizing it at the [...]

By: 7aki Fadi

7aki Fadi — Thu, 29 May 2008 15:24:16 +0000

Thanks Arima, it is the hidden face of Eve, a really really good book, I read it in Arabic

By: Farah

Farah — Sun, 18 May 2008 21:31:38 +0000

I recommend Woman at Point Zero, and al wajh al 3ari lil mar2a al arabiya (hehe i read them in arabic), but like Arima said i don’t agree with some of her religious opinions but otherwise brilliant (though at times unrealistic). BTW, a case against Toujan il Faisal was brought up in jordan in the 90s to divorce her from her husband too. Says something about arabs and opinionated women.

By: Arima

Arima — Sun, 18 May 2008 15:29:03 +0000

Unfortunately this is a view often taken of this very courageous lady. I believe that the book that 7aki Fadi is talking about is the Hidden Face of Eve which is an absolute must read for anyone wanting to get to grips with feminism and women’s rights in the Arab world, it is a very well written book, superbly researched and well respected within academic circles.
True enough, her works of fiction are not the most readable and it can be hard to finish them but if you look deeper into the messages she is trying to relay then one will appreciate their true worth. I particularly like Woman at Point Zero and the Fall of the Imam, both speak very strongly about issues affecting Middle Eastern women in traditional societies. I strongly recommend you read them and encourage others to.
One may disagree with her religious opinions, but that does not stand against her authority as a Doctor who has dealt with some pretty arocious things and spoken out against them. Neither does it forbid her from criticising problems of a patriarchal culture- Islam and culture should not be confused (although she seems to have fallen into this trap herself).
Thank you for drawing more people’s attention to this woman’s important and very essential work

By: Almashkalgy

Almashkalgy — Sun, 18 May 2008 15:02:57 +0000

Nawal Saadawi is not only secular feminist but leftest and anti imperialist

By: 7aki fadi

7aki fadi — Sun, 18 May 2008 14:55:58 +0000

I read my first Nawal Saadawi book when I was in 9th or 10th grade. She changed my outlook on everything.
I can’t remember the books name but it talked about her experience as a doctor in rural Egypt and how the female patients where treated and so on by their parents. the story I remember the most was about a teenage girl who was pregnant but who was still a “virgin” meaning her hymen was intact. So the parents wanted Nawal to abort her by a C section. So she goes on saying how the groom would not care if the girl had a big scar on her stomach as long as the hymen is intact.
The other part I still remember is that barbaric tradition where the bride goes through this process where her virginity is pr oven in front of everybody by a midwife and how some midwifes scratch the bride to make her bleed more to make sure she does not get rejected by the groom.
I encourage you to read her books. She is very intelligent and the things she talks about are very important and are not discussed freely in society.