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A review by deealadwani
A Woman Is No Man by Etaf Rum
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
If you're looking for a realistic book that narrates the reality of living in a conservative society to Arab women, you chose the right one. This book may be disturbing and heavy for some people because of how gruesome and depressing it is. I remember crying on each story of these women: Isra, Deya, Sarah, and even Fareeda.
This book tells the story of Palestinian women who were oppressed by the patriarchal society, who have learned that the Code of Silence, the guilt shaming, and the subordination to their spouses and male members of the family, is the answer. They have been taught that women belong to their husbands, to the kitchen duties, to raising their children, to stay silent, to "endure" and "be patient", to question and blame themselves if they got beaten by their husbands.
Isra thought that being married off to another man and going to stay in America will free her from the pain, restrictions, haunting childhood memories, from the depressing reality of being an Arab woman. But nothing has changedâ€¦đŸ˜¢
This book contains many themes: sexism, patriarichy, depression, Palestine Displacement, forced motherhood, normalizing treating women as punching bags, being the product of conservative society, considering baby boys as accomplishment, while baby girls are "balwa".
You have to read this book if you're interested in this genre and want to know what is it like to be a woman in general, but I am giving you a heads up, you will feel nothing but bitter, sad, and furious while reading the book. đŸ’”
This book tells the story of Palestinian women who were oppressed by the patriarchal society, who have learned that the Code of Silence, the guilt shaming, and the subordination to their spouses and male members of the family, is the answer. They have been taught that women belong to their husbands, to the kitchen duties, to raising their children, to stay silent, to "endure" and "be patient", to question and blame themselves if they got beaten by their husbands.
Isra thought that being married off to another man and going to stay in America will free her from the pain, restrictions, haunting childhood memories, from the depressing reality of being an Arab woman. But nothing has changedâ€¦đŸ˜¢
This book contains many themes: sexism, patriarichy, depression, Palestine Displacement, forced motherhood, normalizing treating women as punching bags, being the product of conservative society, considering baby boys as accomplishment, while baby girls are "balwa".
You have to read this book if you're interested in this genre and want to know what is it like to be a woman in general, but I am giving you a heads up, you will feel nothing but bitter, sad, and furious while reading the book. đŸ’”