Book Review: ‘Gulf Women’s Lives’

Book Review: ‘Gulf Women’s Lives’
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Updated 03 November 2024
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Book Review: ‘Gulf Women’s Lives’

Book Review: ‘Gulf Women’s Lives’

“Gulf Women’s Lives: Voice, Space, Place,” edited by Emanuela Buscemi, Shahd Al-Shammari and Ildiko Kaposi, explores the experiences of Gulf women through three themes: voice, space and place.

“This timely volume fills in a serious gap in research and contributes to countering stereotypes and prejudices about Muslim and Arab women, specifically those located in the Arabian Gulf,” the 2024 anthology’s blurb promises.

Through a mix of essays, literary analyses and personal narratives written by scholars and practitioners, the majority of whom are from the Gulf, “Gulf Women’s Lives” highlights how the women of the region have carved out their own path, navigating complex gender roles and expectations within public and private spaces, and often challenging traditional stereotypes that depict them as submissive or powerless.

Many stories written in the West about Gulf women paint us all with the same broad brush: we are either sad or mad. This book offers a nuanced view of how Gulf women exercise agency and construct their identities. Its interdisciplinary approach combines sociology, literature, media, law and disability studies. Each chapter is grounded in theoretical discussions about gender and the agency of women within Gulf societies. Kuwaiti artist Thuraya Al-Baqsami’s 1987 artwork, “Waiting,” is featured on the cover.

The first part, “Voices,” features three pieces rich with anecdotes: Al-Shammari’s “From Stigma to Speech: An Autoethnography of Bedouin Culture, Writing and Illness,” Kaposi’s “Women Talking Back: In Conversation with Sekka Magazine’s ‘Managing Storyteller’ Sharifah Alhinai,” and Buscemi’s “Bodies on the Margins: Nonconforming Subjectivities in Gulf Women’s Literature.”

Part two, “Spaces,” features Emirati Noura Al-Obeidli on the challenges facing female Emirati journalists in the newsroom; Nora Jaber’s critical analysis of women’s petitions and gender reforms in Saudi Arabia; and Maryam Al-Muhanadi on divorce among Qatari women.

“Places,” also features three essays, each vital to telling the individual and collective story of women in the Gulf.

The women who contributed to this volume dedicated each page to how women in the Gulf have been asserting themselves — within traditional and modern contexts — and address issues such as activism, mobility and societal expectations.

The book has a slightly academic format but is simple enough to read. The theoretical reflections and conversations challenge us all to go beyond narratives of submissiveness, powerlessness and victimization.


What We Are Reading Today: ‘On Belonging and Not Belonging’

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Updated 01 December 2024
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What We Are Reading Today: ‘On Belonging and Not Belonging’

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Author: MARY JACOBUS

“On Belonging and Not Belonging” provides a sophisticated exploration of how themes of translation, migration, and displacement shape an astonishing range of artistic works.

From the possibilities and limitations of translation addressed by Jhumpa Lahiri and David Malouf to the effects of shifting borders in the writings of Eugenio Montale, W. G. Sebald, Colm Tóibín, and many others, esteemed literary critic Mary Jacobus looks at the ways novelists, poets, photographers, and filmmakers revise narratives of language, identity, and exile.

 


What We Are Reading Today: ‘On All Fronts: The Education of a Journalist’

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Updated 01 December 2024
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What We Are Reading Today: ‘On All Fronts: The Education of a Journalist’

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  • Ward’s writing captures the immediacy of war zones with remarkable precision, drawing readers into the chaos and danger of places like Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan

Author: Clarissa Ward

Clarissa Ward’s “On All Fronts: The Education of a Journalist” is an unflinching and deeply personal memoir that provides a rare glimpse into the life of a war correspondent.

Known for her reporting from some of the world’s most volatile regions, Ward chronicles her journey from an aspiring journalist to one of the most recognizable faces in international reporting.

The book is as much a tale of personal growth as it is a vivid account of global conflict, told with the clarity and humanity that defines Ward’s journalism.

Ward’s writing captures the immediacy of war zones with remarkable precision, drawing readers into the chaos and danger of places like Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

Her accounts of reporting under fire, navigating hostile environments, and witnessing the harrowing realities of war are gripping and often heart-wrenching.

And yet Ward balances these scenes with reflective moments, exploring how her experiences have shaped her understanding of humanity, resilience, and her own privilege.

What sets “On All Fronts” apart is that Ward brings the voices and stories of the people she encounters to the forefront, offering insights into lives often reduced to statistics in global news.

Whether describing a mother’s desperate attempts to keep her children safe in Aleppo or the quiet dignity of a refugee fleeing unimaginable horrors, Ward’s storytelling is compassionate and deeply affecting. Her empathy and commitment to amplifying these voices shine through every page.

The memoir also offers a candid look at the personal toll of covering conflict. Ward is unafraid to delve into the emotional and physical strains of her career, reflecting on the sacrifices and ethical dilemmas that come with the job.

Her honesty about the challenges of balancing her professional and personal life adds a layer of vulnerability that makes the book even more compelling. These moments remind readers that behind the camera is a journalist who is constantly grappling with fear, doubt, and the weight of bearing witness to the world’s darkest moments.

Ward’s prose is crisp and evocative, bringing to life not only the war zones she covers but also the newsroom politics and cultural nuances that shape her profession. Her journey — from a privileged upbringing in London to the frontlines of global conflict — is both inspiring and thought-provoking, offering readers a rare look at the making of a journalist.

“On All Fronts” is more than just a memoir; it is a testament to the power of journalism to shine a light on injustice and to connect audiences to the humanity of those caught in conflict. It challenges readers to think critically about the stories they consume and the sacrifices made to bring those stories to light.

Ward has crafted a work that is as gripping as it is reflective; a book that underscores the importance of bearing witness in a world too often defined by division and violence.

For anyone interested in journalism, global affairs, or the complexities of the human condition, “On All Fronts” is an essential read — a masterful blend of memoir and reportage that stays with you long after you have turned the final page.

 


What We Are Reading Today: The White Ladder by Daniel Light

What We Are Reading Today: The White Ladder by Daniel Light
Updated 30 November 2024
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What We Are Reading Today: The White Ladder by Daniel Light

What We Are Reading Today: The White Ladder by Daniel Light

Daniel Light’s “The White Ladder” is a captivating historical narrative that chronicles the thrilling ascent of mountaineering’s world altitude record. 

With a keen eye for detail and a poetic eloquence, Light brings to life the epic journeys of climbers, both renowned and unsung.

He delves into the innovative techniques and breathtaking ascents that pushed the boundaries of the sport, highlighting the crucial roles of local guides and indigenous mountaineers often overlooked in traditional accounts. 

By skillfully weaving together historical sources, Light presents a coherent and engaging narrative that is both accurate and captivating. 

His wry humor adds a refreshing touch to this remarkable tale of human ambition and the allure of the mountain.


What We Are Reading Today: Adam Smith Reconsidered

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Updated 29 November 2024
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What We Are Reading Today: Adam Smith Reconsidered

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Author: Paul Sagar

Adam Smith has long been recognized as the father of modern economics. More recently, scholars have emphasized his standing as a moral philosopher—one who was prepared to critique markets as well as to praise them. But Smith’s contributions to political theory are still underappreciated and relatively neglected.

In this bold, revisionary book, Paul Sagar argues that not only have the fundamentals of Smith’s political thought been widely misunderstood, but that once we understand them correctly, our estimations of Smith as economist and as moral philosopher must radically change.

Rather than seeing Smith either as the prophet of the free market, or as a moralist who thought the dangers of commerce lay primarily in the corrupting effects of trade, Sagar shows why Smith is more thoroughly a political thinker who made major contributions to the history of political thought.

 


What We Are Reading Today: Super Courses by Ken Bain

What We Are Reading Today: Super Courses by Ken Bain
Updated 28 November 2024
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What We Are Reading Today: Super Courses by Ken Bain

What We Are Reading Today: Super Courses by Ken Bain