Paperback 240 pages (November 30, 1990)
Publisher: Saqi Books
ISBN: 0863560504

Interesting Read, Particularly at This Time, in Light of World Events

Rated four stars ****

Even though the book concentrates on women's life in Iraq, it explains a LOT about Iraqi society, and why outsiders are having so much trouble establishing order in Iraq.

According to this author, not only is Iraqi society NOT democratically based, it is DICTATORIALLY based. Men dictate to women. Older women dictate to younger women. Women dictate to children - except that male children are allowed to disobey and argue, whereas female children are not. No wonder that a male dictator was ruling the country!

Written by an Iraqi woman herself, who has gotten a western degree, and then gone back to Iraq as a sociologist to study women's lives, the book is of great interest to women everywhere. She interviews women from all walks of life about their relations with their husbands, brothers, fathers, relationships, careers, and problems. Fascinating, and an excellent read.

I am an American woman living in Morocco for these past 12 years, and found many of the ideas true here as well, except that Moroccan society seems to be far less extreme in its treatment of women. But most of the ideas presented here are somewhat true throughout the Arab world.

This book does NOT seem to be available in America (or on Amazon.com); however it IS available on the UK site of Amazon.co.uk.

Reviewed by

Mary Mimouna

Marrakesh, Morocco

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