Headscarves and Hymens | 
pickThis book contains a lot of really important ideas. The author also gives a lot of context for the state of women's lives in many predominantly Muslim countries. And on a lighter note, she reads the #audiobook and has a really lovely accent.
#BookSpinBingo square 9
@TheAromaofBooks
pickThis book is brutally honest about why it sucks to be a woman in Muslim majority countries. Eltahawy lays it all out there from emotional abuse to female genital mutilation. I appreciated every essay, every word. And because I could step away from the audiobook, take a break, read something lighter, I am reminded of my privilege. Excellent feminist read.
Longer review https://www.TheBibliophage.com #thebibliophage2021
pickWhat a great book, very informative about many issues facing women especially in Muslim majority countries. Some things you will find are universal, like domestic abuse and victim blaming, other things like bans from playing sports or driving cars, as well as female genital mutilation were very nuisanced and topics I was less informed about.
#Nonfiction2021
#NonfictionMatters
pickThis was excellent. An important voice in the Muslim feminist movement.
#MuslimAuthor #Booked2019 #BooksforAllies #AuthorFromAfrica #PopSugarReadingChallenge #AfricanAuthor #BookPassport #41of65 #audiobook
pickExcellent book, very thought provoking. The author pulls no punches in describing the treatment of women in the Middle East and in condemning the governments that allow this and often enforce this, and in the failure of other nations to confront it. Essential intersectional feminist reading.
Gonna try to catch up with this for @bookriot 's book club Persist.
Started this today and it has absolutely hit me over the head. "This country" is Saudi Arabia.
pickThe book is well written and to the point and the author makes many statements more personal by describing her own experiences.
It's authors like her that really have me rethink my stance on the headscarf. I get more and more convinced that the headscarf and feminism doesn't go together. Keeping in mind that making women to cover is only one way to control them and there are many other things that need to change.
pickThe sad and despicable truth is that women are not treated as equals. Not here, not anywhere. This writer explores this issue from Egypt. With frightening data that I think everyone should be aware of. Without truth and awareness there can be no change.
pickThis book is a great primer for people like me who haven't been to the Middle East. I've seen some good, reasonable critique of her stances, but I'll recommend this book for those who want to learn what level of atrocity is happening to women in parts of the world.
Hit up @AstoriaBookshop and they had a Book RX. I asked for poetry in translation about something other than love (cc @bookriot ) and walked away with a multi-genre book called Multiple Choice.
Got Hymens and Headscarves since it's been on my radar for a while. Also, I will get a free coffee or tea at @housingworksbks when I stop by later.
pickThis was a difficult read. I am not too familiar with the revolution being lead in the Middle East and some of the stuff the author discusses is dark. She discusses child marriage, rape, cutting, assault, and all the ways women and girls are being beaten into silence. I wish we could all agree that most religions are problematic and when we let people interpret these scriptures in the ways that benefit only one side-it harms women.
pick"Women -- our rage, our tenacity, our daring and audacity -- will free our countries."
I'm so glad I read this. It taught me about some things that I knew in abstract way, and filled in some of those gaps. I might disagree with Mona on some things but overall this is fantastic and I need to get my own copy.
#sjbookclub #feminism #toxicmasculinity #international
Some horrifying but important #lunchtimereading today.
#socialjusticereads #sjbookclub #misogyny #weneedfeminism
Family is coming into town but they're running late, so I have some time to sit down and start this.
#socialjusticereads #sjbookclub #feminism #currentlyreading #HeadscarvesandHymens
Picked up a little something extra when I bought this month's #SJBookClub pick, because I can't turn down a new journal.
#marchintoreading #alliterativetitles
Just a few of the alliterative titles on my Kobo TBR!
pickI am resisting the urge to immediately pick up something light and entertaining to distract myself from some of the horrifying facts about the daily experiences of women in the Middle East I have just read in this book. I feel like I need time to process it. This book is difficult, painful and confronting. But mostly this book is important.
#MondayMotivation from the powerful Mona Eltahawy, an Egyptian activist who speaks on feminism, Islam, and authoritarian governments. 💪🏽💪🏽
#badasswomen
pickI think I need to sit with this book and process it. The Middle East is my home, and I was lucky enough to have a very privileged upbringing in a neutral country. I went to school, we have religious freedom for the most part, a large Indian community, I can drive- all of which sound very trivial- until you read a book like this and take a step back and examine your privileged bubble. Put this on your TBR stat.
Finally home after a two week trip, and got so much catching up to do with the blog, #SJBookClub, and other bookish odds and ends. But first, some reading time.
Oh hey @Litsy these iPhone updates are👌🏽👌🏽👌🏽👌🏽👌🏽
Hi Littens, been a little AWOL because I'm visiting some friends I haven't seen all year, and haven't really had time to pick up a book. Just popping in to say I love and miss you all and I'll be back soon.💜
I love seeing quotes from favourite books in my current reads. #amreading #diversebooks #feminism #nonfiction
pickI listened to this on audio and have to say, it doesn't make for easy listening. Not that it's meant to. I don't believe in shying away from awkward topics, but I do believe in self-care, and I did have to set this aside a few times to recover myself. Eltahawy is right on the money with this - why do we put religious tolerance before the human rights of millions of women? It's a heartbreaking book, but it's exactly what the world needs to hear.
today's feminist reading feat. nails so sharp they could puncture the inflated ego of every MRA.
#womenwriters #weneeddiversebooks #DiverseBookBloggers
Day 7 of #Booktober: #LitsyConfessions I borrowed this book from the library for so long that it's mine now. It was overdue and when I thought I was paying fines for some books I was accidentally paying the replacement fee for this book. I was intending to buy it anyway so I just kept it instead of donating it back to the library like I normally would. Oops. 😬😬😬
If you haven't read this yet you should. It's worth the replacement fee! 😂
This can be a difficult listen at times, but the subject matter was never going to be easy listening! Eltahawy is unapologetic in her opinions, and repeatedly calls out the oppression of women in the name of religious observation and purity. Some of her opinions about religious veiling might make people uncomfortable, but it's an interesting perspective and I appreciate her no-nonsense stance on women's rights.
pickHeadscarves And Hymens is a book that I would recommend everyone to read. It talks about the discrimination and problems faced by women in the Middle East. Some of it might anger you, some of it might make you cry but it will definitely make you think of the situation of women not only in the Middle East but everywhere. My favourite chapter in the book was Home.
Read it.
My #WWW and #recommendsday pick. She is shining a bright light on abuses women suffer in the Middle East and the world. We should listen.
pickWhat to say about this book. The facts in it were deeply disturbing and I wanted to believe she has some angle some reason to exaggerate. I would walk away from it only to go right back. Rage and disbelief as I hear the reality of my sisters in the Middle East and know we still have so far to go here as well. This is a book worth reading even if reading it is hard. I wish I could thank her for her courage in writing it.
This is absolutely disgusting. In this day and age there are women still trapped In the dark ages. Need to set this book aside for a bit.
I find so many of the facts in this book terribly disturbing so I'm using one of my Buddha Doodle cards as a bookmark right now to give me a chance to reflect on beauty when I feel overwhelmed by what I'm reading.
"Terror encourages you to jump, even when you don't know if you'll ever land."
Been reading some very serious Books this month and loving them. Glad Litsy lead me to this one.
I just love a really good dedication page. This one gives you a real good idea of the power contained in these pages. Excited to have discovered this! Thanks Litsy!!
Had to go to my happy place. Picked out these two beauties to come with me and be my very own.
My #WonderWomanWednesday is Mona Eltahawy, an Egyptian-American journalist & author that advocates for women's rights in the Arab world. She's been held captive in Egypt & physically/sexually assaulted for covering the Tahrir Square protests in 2011 & arrested for painting over Islamophobic ads in NYC. She focuses on oppression of women, FGM,* freedom of press & speech, & speaks out against oppressive Muslim regimes. 🙌🏽
🔗 Links in comments!
pickYes, yes, YES. I'm embarrassed to say that my feminism has been so Western-centric that I hadn't even considered the feminist landscape of the Middle East & North Africa. What a punch to the gut! To say I learned a lot is an understatement. Go read this book!!
so-soIf only there was an option between "Pick" and "So-so" but there isn't so you'll just have to pretend with me. Mona is a force of nature, a vital feminist voice, and this is a great primer for someone unfamiliar with patriarchal oppression. I wish she had cited more sources/added a bibliography.
I've been waiting for this one for a while. Hopes are high.
I forgot who recommended this, but THANK YOU. It just came in on my library holds and I'm super excited! 👍🏼👏🏼🙌🏼
