What GAD is Reading: Summer 2017
Since summer is in full swing and we all find ourselves with more free time than normal, the Gender and Development Committee (GAD) wanted to recommend a few books that are available on request from the Peace Corps librarian. The following are books selected by each GAD committee member.
Dreams of Trespass: Tales of Harem Girlhood by Fatima Mernissi
Feminist Traditions in Andalusi-Moroccan Oral Narratives by Hasna Lebbady
The Hidden Face of Eve: Women in the Arab World by Nawal El Saadawi
Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri
We Should All Be Feminists by Ngozi Adichie
Dreams of Trespass: Tales of Harem Girlhood by Fatima Mernissi
Dreams of Trespass: Tales of Harem Girlhood by Fatima Mernissi was one of the first books I read about gender issues in Morocco. Through her childhood memories, Mernissi walks you through the life of a harem and shows the lives of various female members of her extended family. It is a good intro book to read because it brings up heavy topics such as Islamic feminism, gender dynamic in Morocco, French colonization, and Arab nationalism in a narrative format. I found this book very powerful because Mernissi weaves the idea about socially-constructed borders that divide people and the act of trespassing, which is often forbidden but empowering.
Recommended by Young Kwon
Feminist Traditions in Andalusi-Moroccan Oral Narratives by Hasna Lebbady
For a more academic read relevant to the Moroccan context, check out Hasna Lebbady’s Feminist Traditions in Andalusi-Moroccan Oral Narratives. In this book, Lebaddy features seven tales that have been passed down in oral tradition by Tetouani women for centuries. She dissects each of them one by one from both a literary and feminist standpoint, uncovering a trend which consists of female protagonists ultimately outwitting even the most noble of men—a notion which challenges a particular perspective of Muslim women being not only physically but mentally confined to the harem. In fact, it seems that these storytelling women have found freedom in oral narrative tradition versus written word which has historically been controlled by male voice and perspective.
If you’re interested in storytelling, literature, theatre, and/or feminism in Moroccan tradition, this book is worth a browse. Also check out the GAD and Theatre: Acts of Equality and GAD Folklore: A Generation of Storytellers toolkits.
Recommended by Katie Bercegeay
The Hidden Face of Eve: Women in the Arab World by Nawal El Saadawi
I visit the Peace Corps library every time I make a trip to the office. M’Hamed often recommends books since he knows I’m an avid reader. Last time I went to see him, he saw my stack of GAD-related books and insisted I check out The Hidden Face of Eve by Nawal El Saadawi. “She’s the Fatima Mernissi of Egypt!” he exclaimed with delight. He wasn’t wrong. This book truly shook me to the core and helped shape my view on the struggles of Arab women for equality and justice. Though the book was first published in 1977, there are many aspects that still ring true today. Like Mernissi, Saadawi effortlessly blends stylistic elements of memoir and critical analysis of Arab culture and Islam to present to societal issues affecting women in Egypt. Her experiences growing up in an Islamic society, working as a doctor in villages around Egypt, witnessing prostitution, honor killings, sexual abuse, and female circumcision, are the foundation for her work. She insightfully points out how femininity did not evolve independently of society but rather that femininity and a woman’s place in society (all societies) are direct reflections of socioeconomic practices or goals of that society.
I would, however, advise the reader to beware—some of the scenes are quite graphic and difficult to read without feeling physically affected.
Recommended by Elizabeth Jay
Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri
I enjoyed this collection of short stories because it gives the reader a chance to really see and feel the emotions that manifest in times of uncertainty and change. The gender roles that define the relationships in all the character's lives make for stories you don't want to end -- where each story in its own way grapples with what happens when gender constructions and social norms come to hinder a loved one's ability to have a healthy relationship. What I appreciate most is all the situations feel real, and it is not a stretch to see certain friends or a family member in some of the characters. This realism places me back in America, giving the book real substance.
Recommended by Jess Wamala
We Should All Be Feminists by Ngozi Adichie
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's We Should All Be Feminists is a short essay and spin-off of her popular TEDx Talk. In her talk, Adichie discusses what it means to be a feminist with an emphasis that it is understanding and acknowledging that sexism exists. Through various personal accounts, Adichie uses the book to explain her many encounters with sexism starting from her early years in Nigeria. She explains stereotypes around being a feminist and the traditional perspectives on gender roles in Nigeria.
A highly recommended short read for those looking for something quick on feminism and specifically in Africa. The stories Adichie covers are both relatable and mind-opening and it inspires collective action to build awareness on the effects of sexism and strict gender roles.
Recommended by Heyab-Mariam Ogbasion
--- Posted by Katie Bercegeay
