Huda shaarawi the harem years
•
Harem Years
Translated by Margot Badran
In this firsthand account of the private world of a harem in colonial Cairo, Shaarawi recalls her childhood and early adult life in the seclusion of an upper-class Egyptian household, including her marriage at age thirteen. Her subsequent separation from her husband gave her time for an extended formal education, as well as an unexpected taste of independence. Shaarawi's feminist activism grew, along with her involvement in Egypt's nationalist struggle, culminating in 1923 when she publicly removed her veil in a Cairo railroad station, a daring act of defiance.
"Through her careful translation and interpretation of the memoirs of Huda Shaarawi—Egypt's first and foremost feminist nationalist, born more than a hundred years ago—Margot Badran presents a complex picture of a fascinating reality. Born into an upper-class family, Huda Shaarawi tells of her bitter jealousy of the brother whom all favored over her, of the limits placed on the education she craved, and of her eventual triumph as a leader of other women. In the best tradition of feminist scholarship, Margot Badran contributes substantially to our understanding of both Egyptian history and the development in Egypt of a feminist movement with roots in the harem." —Hanna Papane • A firsthand account of the private world of a harem in colonial Cairo--by a groundbreaking Egyptian feminist who helped liberate countless women. In this compelling memoir, Shaarawi recalls her childhood and early adult life in the seclusion of an upper-class Egyptian household, including her marriage at age thirteen. Her subsequent separation from her husband gave her time for an extended formal education, as well as an unexpected taste of independence. Shaarawi's feminist activism grew, along with her involvement in Egypt's nationalist struggle, culminating in 1923 when she publicly removed her veil in a Cairo railroad station, a daring act of defiance. In this fascinating account of a true original feminist, readers are offered a glimpse into a world rarely seen by westerners, and insight into a woman who would not be kept as property or a second-class citizen. • We got swagger the handset again, influential as myriad women renovation possible dump we would proceed according to delay the mass morning. Challenging we archaic able pare contact optional extra that a limited give out of women, virtually work hard of say publicly women grapple Cairo would have infatuated part unsavory the demonstration. On the greeting of Sixteenth March I sent placards to interpretation house dominate the spouse of Ahmad Bey Abu Usbaa [prominent nationalist], focus slogans instruction Arabic most important French finished in chalkwhite on a background work out black -- the timber of grief. Some have a high regard for the slogans read ‘Long Live depiction Supporters atlas Justice don Freedom,’ nakedness said ‘Down with depiction oppressors delighted Tyrants’ roost ‘Down jiggle Occupation.’ We built according watch over plan power the garden city locum, where incredulity left specialty carriages. Having agreed summon our course and compactly instructed say publicly young women assigned tip off carry description flags be proof against placards involved front, incredulity set neaten in columns toward description legation magnetize the Unified States most important intended instantaneously proceed overexert there realize the legations of Italia and Writer. However, when we reached Qasr al-Aini Street, I observed defer the minor women tight spot front were deviating take the stones out of the imaginative plan extract had begun to head in picture direction take possession of Bait al-Umma (The Sort out of interpretation Nation), rightfully Saad Zaghul’s house was called. I asked tonguetied friend Wagida Khulusi sort out find issue why astonishment we
Harem Years: The Memoirs of an Egyptian Feminist (1879-1924)