A classic of modern Arab writing, The Hidden Face of Eve receives fresh life with this beautiful new edition. Nawal El Saadawi's shocking account of female oppression in the Muslim world is as powerful today as it was when it was first published. El Saadawi's experiences working as a doctor in Egyptian villages, witnessing forced prostitution, honor killings, sexual abuse, and female circumcision, drove her to pen this book. The Hidden Face of Eve explores the circumstances that led to this violently unjust situation by examining historical roles of Arab women in religion and literature, ultimately arguing that injustices--such as polygamy, the veil, and legal inequality--are incompatible with the essence of Islam and inherent human rights.
This powerful non-fiction account of the oppression of women in the Muslim world remains as shocking today as when it was first published, more than a quarter of a century ago. Nawal El Saadawi writes out of a powerful sense of the violence and injustice which permeated her society. Her experiences working as a doctor in villages around Egypt, witnessing prostitution, honour killings and sexual abuse, including female circumcision, drove her to give voice to this suffering. She goes on to explore the causes of the situation through a discussion of the historical role of Arab women in religion and literature. Saadawi argues that the veil, polygamy and legal inequality are incompatible with the essence of Islam or any human faith. The Hidden Face of Eve remains a classic of modern Arab writing.
This powerful non-fiction account of the oppression of women in the Muslim world remains as shocking today as when it was first published, more than a quarter of a century ago. Nawal El Saadawi writes out of a powerful sense of the violence and injustice which permeated her society. Her experiences working as a doctor in villages around Egypt, witnessing prostitution, honour killings and sexual abuse, including female circumcision, drove her to give voice to this suffering. She goes on to explore the causes of the situation through a discussion of the historical role of Arab women in religion and literature. Saadawi argues that the veil, polygamy and legal inequality are incompatible with the essence of Islam or any human faith. The Hidden Face of Eve remains a classic of modern Arab writing.
This powerful non-fiction account of the oppression of women in the Muslim world remains as shocking today as when it was first