“Slavery”, “humiliating”, “abusing”, “filthy”, “degrading”, “easy way out”. All these stigmas are used when describing a prostitute, yet it is all this that grants Firdaus utter freedom. This novel uncovers the naked truth of what it means to be a woman in an egyptian patriarchal society in the early 1980’s. In the world that Firdaus knows, women exist to serve men, women belong to men, women reside in the power of the hands of men. Female humans are objects, possessions, slaves and pleasure machines; in Firdaus society “all women are prostitutes of one kind or another”. She accepts the crude reality of what women are; arguing that “men force women to sell their bodies at a price, and that the lowest paid body is that of a wife” Wives are maltreated prostitutes who trade their sexual service for regular subsistence, housing and support of their offspring. Prostitutes are autonomous prostitutes who trade their sexual service for freedom. In the end however, Firdaus comprehends that women will always need men to survive because in her world men have the power; “I knew that my profession had been invented by men, and that men were in control of both our worlds, the one on earth, and the one in heaven.” El Saadawi uses religious connotations to highlight the superiority of men but also to communicate that this belief arises from culture itself; “all husbands beat their wives… it was precisely men well versed in their religion who beat their wives. The precepts of religion permitted such punishment… her duty was perfect obedience” The treatment to women was not accepted but strongly believed in. One can accept something that one believes is false, but believing in something means that one trusts that something is true.
The theme of culture is so predominant throughout the story that it becomes the base of it. The human behaviour is not of individual responsibility, the culture plays a crucial role. All humans behave according to their principles, their beliefs, their religion and society, therefore people’s behaviour is built automatically through experiences and events they experienced or were taught. Firdaus encountered all types of abuse since she was young and as a result she continued letting people treat her the way she was brought up. She did not think of it as abuse but as a reality, people that came to her life and did not abuse her in some way or another were to her, a fantasy, surreal. In a society where men and women believe that beating, raping, humiliating women is the absolute truth, challenging that belief is considered rebellious and dishonorable. This makes us question, to what extent do we have free will? If humans unconsciously act based on society then how do we know what is good or what is bad; if those concepts are based solely on our culture, on our upbringing, on what others teach us. Since culture is the result of general human invention it consists not merely of what is done but also of what ought to be, of what is already expected. Within this society being a prostitute or simply living outside the accepted social and religious order is seen as antagonistic, while on other cultures this act of rebelliousness is recognized as heroism. It all has to do with what you have been taught to believe.
Yet the concept of money presented in this extract is one universally shared. The piece of paper we call “money” equals survival. Regardless of the culture or society you belong to, it is a fact that all human beings want to be honored and respected. Except, what does it really take to be considered an “honorable person”? From beginning to end, this book emphasizes the true supremacy of money. Women were viewed and treated inferior, as second-rate human beings; but only as long as they had no money of their own. The treatment of women was based on religion and beliefs, but also on their wealth. For example, when Firdaus uncle married he treated his wife with fear and respect because her family was in a more powerful rich position than him. However, when her uncle raised in position he began treating her like all women. This is was Firdaus realized; that money was power and that power was control. Money was the ultimate key to freedom. With money she could “employ any number of servants to wash... pay a doctor for an abortion...hire a lawyer no matter how expensive to defend my honour” This passage does not only challenge the demeanor of men but also of humanity in general. It denounces our materialism and ambitious nature. Firdaus, after understanding that all women are prostitutes despite having a “honorable” job realizes that honour, as almost everything in life, can be bought. The whole theme of honour develops into a symbol of the hypocritical society and the corruption within mankind. Throughout the world the consciousness of social classes is a truth. No matter the culture, or religion, humans always tend to see who is below, and who is above, because ultimately those who are above have the power, the control, the respect. It is a universal truth that Firdaus and El Saadawi reveal, and that is that “Everybody has a price. The more respectable the profession, the higher the salary, and a person’s price goes up…” Mortals are simply toys manipulated by wealthier more powerful toys.
It it crucial to understand that this novel does not merely apply to women in egypt but to all women. To all humanity. I think that El Saadawi understands that writing this book does not mean that suddenly everything will change, that women will no longer be mistreated, or that she will change the beliefs that have been inculcated for generations. What El Saadawi seeks is to open the minds of others to the inequality in different societies. To make readers conscious of human truths and to give voice to those who have none. Nowadays, movies, books or anything that has to do with reflecting the reality of different societies, or different social positions are considered award winning art. Take for example, Roma (the life of low class domestic workers), or Green book (A black pianist in a territory and a time subjugated to racism.) Both show the tough lives of “different” human beings. I believe that awareness is spread by presenting so openly this human issues and struggles, it helps humans understand or consider that perhaps we all have to have the same culture, the same rights. Or that at least the culture of each one does not disparage any human being.
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