Weekly Geeks #4

Weekly Geeks #4 theme: Choose a political or social issue that matters to you. Find several books addressing that issue; they don’t have to books you’ve read, just books you might like to read. Using images (of the book covers or whatever you feel illustrates your topic) present these books in your blog.

There are a lot of social issues that I feel passionate about, but the one I am picking (arbitrarily based on the books laying around at my house at the time of writing) is women's rights. Yes, I'm a feminist, but in all honesty, women in the United States have it pretty good when compared to women in many other countries in the world.

I got Inside the Kingdom for my birthday last year and I read it from start to finish in one sitting. This riveting book was written by Carmen bin Ladin (does that last name ring a bell?) Although she grew up in Europe and spent a lot of time in America, she fell in love with a Saudi Arabian man, who happened to be a brother of Osama bin Ladin. They got married in Saudi Arabia, where she then lived for a number of years.

Her story of what life is like to be a woman in Saudi Arabia is chilling. In Saudi Arabia, most freedoms that women enjoy around the world are non-existent. Women can't go outside without a full veil called an abaya, and not without a male escort. They may not speak to anyone else in public. Even when out, there is little that Saudi women are encouraged to do.

"There were no books. There were no theaters, no concerts, no cinemas. There was no reason to go out, and in any case we could not go out: I was not allowed to go for a walk, and legally could not drive."

Even indoors, women cannot socialize with any men aside from their husband or immediate male relatives. Women in Saudia Arabia are completely dependent on their male relatives. When Carmen was pregnant, she notes that:

"Longing for a boy was not just a whim... it is a question of basic survival. In the event of a husband's death, if his wife has only daughters, then the wife and girl children - even if they are adult - become dependent on the husband's closest male relative. He is their guardian, and must approve even basic decisions, such as travel, or education, or the choice of a husband."

When she tries to distract herself from the tedium of her life in Saudia Arabia by tackling a redecorating project at her house, Carmen encountered a host of problems:

"Shopping for furnishing was almost impossible: There were no shops.... Then, how to carpet the house? Because I could not be seen or spoken to by the male workers, I had to assume that they knew their craft and rely on (a male secretary) to direct the team."

After spending three days cloistered in another part of the house while the workers fail to install the carpet correctly several times, Carmen finally goes out to order them around directly. "They would not look at me. I told them to tear out the carpeting again. They would not listen to me. The Sudanese worker who was laying down more carpeting simply laid down some more. I repeated myself. I raised my voice. Finally he turned his head slightly, still not facing me. "I do not take orders from women," he growled."

I can't imagine living in a country where social norms are so such that workers fixing my own house with my own money would openly refuse to obey. My own personal encounters with sexism absolutely pale in comparison.

Carmen bin Ladin writes a personal story that is thought-provoking, sad at times, and yet optimistic. Undoubtedly, sharing her story about what life is like for women in Saudi Arabia was the ultimate act of rebellion for her. I can't recommend this one highly enough.

I have not read Waris Dirie's entire book yet, but I did read a section of it in Reader's Digest, and it piqued my interest (and indignation). Waris was born in Somalia, and at the age of five, was forced by her mother to undergo female genital mutilation. (Follow the link for details, but I warn you it isn't pretty). FGM is a practice common in certain parts of Africa. It is hard to imagine justification for a practice that at best leaves young girls mutilated for life, if they survive the "surgery" (often carried out with little more than a rusty knife). However, it is considered necessary in order for a woman to be eligible for marriage.

After Waris was offered in marriage to a 61-year-old man in exchange for 5 camels, she ran away from home. She found her way to London, where she became a model and later an advocate against FGM. She wrote this book to tell her story and educate people about the truth of this terrible practice. Gosh, I really need to go pick up this book now. I'm feeling the need for my daily dose of righteous indignation.

I'm sure there are a multitude of other great books on this topic, so I will ask you: do you know of other ones I should really read? Please recommend!