Introduction
Mona Eltahawy's "Headscarves and Hymens" is a powerful and eye-opening exploration of the systemic oppression faced by women in Arab countries. The book delves into the complex issues surrounding women's rights in the Middle East and North Africa, going far beyond the surface-level debates about veiling that often dominate Western discourse. Eltahawy, an Egyptian-American journalist and activist, draws on her personal experiences and extensive research to paint a vivid picture of the challenges faced by Arab women and the nascent feminist movement working to overcome them.
The Misogynistic Culture of the Arab World
A Hostile Environment for Women
Eltahawy begins by highlighting the stark reality of daily life for many women in Arab countries. While most Westerners are aware that women in these regions don't enjoy equal rights, the extent of the abuse and discrimination they face is often underestimated. The author argues that Islamic religion, particularly in its more conservative interpretations, plays a significant role in promoting and maintaining this misogynistic culture.
In many Arab nations, ultra-conservative Islamic ideologies have given rise to societies obsessed with controlling women. This is especially prevalent among Salafi groups, followers of the Sunni sect of Islam, and political organizations like the Muslim Brotherhood. The result is a pervasive inequality between the sexes that has become the norm throughout much of the Islamic world.
Religious Courts and Family Law
One of the key factors contributing to women's oppression in Arab countries is the prevalence of religious courts that enforce Islamic laws in family matters. While these courts are ostensibly meant to protect families, they often fail to prevent or punish atrocities such as child marriage, marital rape, sexual harassment, and domestic violence.
Eltahawy provides shocking examples of how these courts can perpetuate injustice:
- In Egypt, a court ruled that a man could beat his wife with "good intentions" without facing consequences.
- In Yemen, an eight-year-old girl died on her wedding night after being raped by her much older husband.
Despite the horror of such cases, voices supporting practices like child marriage remain disturbingly prevalent. Some clerics even justify these actions by referencing the example of the Prophet Mohammed, whose second wife was reportedly a child when they wed.
The Global Gender Gap
The author points to the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap report as evidence of the widespread inequality in Arab nations. This report, which measures levels of gender inequality across various countries, found that no Arab country qualified to appear in the list of top 100 countries working to close the gender gap. Even Morocco, often praised for its supposedly "progressive" family policies, ranked only 129th on the list. Yemen appeared at the very bottom.
The Silence Surrounding Women's Oppression
Why Arab Women Stay Silent
Eltahawy explores the reasons why many Arab women remain silent about their oppression. Growing up in a culture that rewards obedience, these women often struggle to express their feelings toward their male oppressors. There are several factors that contribute to this silence:
- Fear of embarrassing their communities
- Risk of exposing friends and family to investigations by internal forces
- Concern about drawing attention from external critics, such as Islamophobes
- Shame and cultural pressure to maintain the status quo
The author compares the courage required for Arab feminists to speak out to that of American women of color who raised their voices against sexism within the black community. In both cases, these women must overcome the fear of hurting or betraying their own people in order to fight for their rights.
Western Liberals and Cultural Relativism
Eltahawy also criticizes Western liberals for their reluctance to directly critique misogynistic behavior in Arab societies. This silence, she argues, stems from a misguided attempt to "respect" other ways of life and a tendency towards cultural relativism. The author recounts how she addressed this issue in a 2012 Foreign Policy article, criticizing Westerners for their tacit support of the most conservative aspects of Arab societies and their failure to address Arab women's secondary status.
The Veil: Choice or Oppression?
Understanding the Veil
The author delves into the complex issue of veiling in Arab societies, explaining the two main types of veils:
- The hijab, which covers the head and chest
- The niqab, which covers the head, chest, and face
Eltahawy notes that interpretations of the Quran and Hadith instruct women to cover themselves fully, except for the face and hands. As a result, wearing a veil is often seen as a sign of piety, modesty, and respect for tradition.
Personal Choices and Societal Pressure
While the decision to wear a veil can be personal for some women, Eltahawy argues that true choice exists only for a small fraction of Arab women, primarily those from privileged backgrounds. She shares her own experience of wearing a headscarf from age 16 to 25, acknowledging the privilege she had in being able to choose whether or not to veil.
For many women, however, the "choice" to wear a veil is anything but:
- In Saudi Arabia, morality police patrol the streets, and women without veils can face lashing or imprisonment.
- In other countries, unveiled women are seen as bringing shame upon themselves and their families.
The author emphasizes that until women's rights take precedence over religious custom, most Arab women have no real choice in the matter of veiling.
The Obsession with Virginity and Female Genital Mutilation
The Hymen as a Symbol of Purity
Eltahawy explores another deeply problematic aspect of Arab culture: the obsession with preserving a woman's hymen for her wedding night. In many Arab societies, an intact hymen is seen as proof of virginity and is diligently policed by families and religious authorities. This cultural norm leads to intense pressure on girls and young women, with mothers often shaming their daughters for any exploration of their sexuality.
The Horror of Female Genital Mutilation
One of the most disturbing practices discussed in the book is female genital mutilation (FGM), which is used in some Arab societies to "protect" girls' virginity. Eltahawy explains that FGM involves the partial or complete removal of a girl's exterior genitalia, with the misguided intention of decreasing sexual desire and maintaining virginity.
The author emphasizes several key points about FGM:
- It's a cultural practice, not a religious one, occurring among both Muslim and Christian communities in some countries.
- It does little to decrease female sexual desire but often makes sexual intercourse painful or unpleasant for victims.
- FGM can lead to severe health complications, including bleeding, infections, infertility, and even death.
- The practice is considered a violation of human rights by the United Nations and the World Health Organization.
Sexual Harassment and Domestic Violence
The Dangers of Public Spaces
Eltahawy paints a grim picture of the constant threat of abuse faced by women in Arab countries, both in public and at home. She cites a 2013 United Nations survey that found 99.3 percent of Egyptian women reported experiencing sexual harassment in public, primarily in the form of unsolicited touching or verbal attacks.
The author also highlights the additional dangers women face when seeking help after experiencing sexual harassment or assault:
- Victims like Dalal, a 16-year-old Jordanian girl, can end up in forced marriages with their rapists, as men are often allowed to avoid punishment by marrying their victims.
- Going to the police can lead to further abuse, such as the "virginity tests" conducted by Egyptian police, which are essentially a form of state-sanctioned rape.
Eltahawy shares her own harrowing experience of being sexually assaulted by security forces during a women's rights protest in Egypt in 2011, resulting in broken bones and lasting trauma.
The Lack of Safety at Home
The author emphasizes that for many Arab women, home is no safer than the public sphere. In many Arab societies, women are treated as the property of their husbands, and domestic abuse is often sanctioned or ignored by religious authorities.
Eltahawy points out several disturbing realities:
- Sharia-based laws often protect men rather than women in cases of domestic abuse.
- Even in countries that have passed national laws against domestic violence, such as Saudi Arabia, enforcement is often lacking.
- In Iraq, a man faces a maximum of three years in prison for murdering his wife, compared to life sentences in most Western countries.
- Clerics in some countries, like the United Arab Emirates, encourage men to "discipline" their wives and daughters, as long as they don't leave visible marks.
Perhaps most disturbingly, victims of domestic violence in many Arab countries are often blamed for bringing the attacks upon themselves, further discouraging women from seeking help or speaking out against their abusers.
The Rise of Arab Feminism
Challenging the Status Quo
Despite the overwhelming challenges faced by women in Arab countries, Eltahawy highlights the emergence of a brave and determined feminist movement. These activists are working to prove wrong the notion, often promoted by conservative religious authorities, that Arab women are not ready for equal treatment in society.
The author provides several examples of how Arab feminists are making progress:
In Saudi Arabia, where women were long banned from playing sports or participating in the Olympics, activist Wajeha al-Huwaider launched an online campaign in 2008 to protest the ban. By 2012, the Saudi Olympic team included two female members.
In 2011, Manal al-Sharif challenged Saudi Arabia's ban on women driving by posting a video of herself behind the wheel. This act of defiance inspired other women to do the same, triggering a wave of online support for changing the restrictive law.
The Power of the Internet
Eltahawy emphasizes the crucial role that the internet and social media have played in empowering Arab women to speak out and organize. These platforms have allowed activists to:
- Share their stories and experiences
- Connect with like-minded individuals across borders
- Organize protests and campaigns
- Bring international attention to their cause
The author argues that these online protests and campaigns are irrefutable proof that Arab women are not just ready for change, but actively demanding it.
Women's Rights and Political Revolutions
The Double-Edged Sword of Revolution
Eltahawy explores the complex relationship between women's rights and broader political movements in the Arab world. She traces the history of feminist activism in the region back to 1923, when Egyptian feminist Huda Sha'arawi started a movement for women to shed the veil.
More recently, the author discusses the role of women in the Arab Spring protests of 2010 and 2011. While these movements offered hope for greater freedom and democracy, they also revealed the deeply entrenched nature of misogyny in Arab societies.
Continued Violence Against Women
Eltahawy highlights the disturbing reality that even during supposedly liberating revolutionary movements, women continued to face sexual violence from both authority figures and fellow protesters:
- In Syria, women protesting against President Bashar al-Assad were raped and tortured by loyalists.
- In Egypt, women demonstrating against President Hosni Mubarak were sexually assaulted by people in the crowds.
- During the 2014 presidential inauguration of Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in Egypt, a woman was gang-raped in Cairo's Tahrir Square.
The author argues that political revolutions that fail to address social and sexual abuse will never truly transform the misogynistic status quo. She emphasizes the need for comprehensive change that addresses both political and social issues.
The Path Forward
Education and Awareness
Eltahawy advocates for several key steps to improve the situation of women in Arab countries:
- Introduction of comprehensive sex education in regions where women suffer disproportionately from sexual violence
- Reform of repressive laws, such as those that forbid extramarital sex and allow rapists to marry their victims
- Increased awareness and discussion of women's rights issues, both within Arab countries and internationally
The Importance of Speaking Up
The author emphasizes that positive change can only come from people speaking up and taking action. She encourages everyone to play a role in the fight for women's rights in the Arab world:
- Those who can't physically protest in the streets should use whatever means they have to take a stand
- Western allies should show solidarity with Arab feminists and speak out against oppression
- Arab women themselves must continue to claim their rights and resist societal pressure to remain silent
Conclusion
"Headscarves and Hymens" is a powerful call to action, urging readers to open their eyes to the systemic oppression of women in Arab countries and to support the brave activists working for change. Mona Eltahawy's personal experiences and extensive research provide a compelling and nuanced look at the complex issues surrounding women's rights in the Middle East and North Africa.
The book challenges both Western misconceptions about Arab women and the deeply ingrained misogyny within Arab societies themselves. By addressing topics such as veiling, female genital mutilation, sexual harassment, and domestic violence, Eltahawy exposes the multifaceted nature of women's oppression in the region.
At the same time, the author offers hope through her exploration of the growing feminist movement in Arab countries. She highlights the courage and determination of women who are using social media, grassroots organizing, and public protests to demand their rights and challenge long-standing cultural norms.
Ultimately, "Headscarves and Hymens" is a reminder that the struggle for women's rights in the Arab world is far from over. It calls on readers to educate themselves, speak out against injustice, and support the brave individuals working to create a more equal and just society for all. By sharing her own story and amplifying the voices of other Arab women, Mona Eltahawy has created a powerful testament to the resilience and strength of women in the face of overwhelming oppression.