From Sleep Unbound And Osaa

How is the plight of women in Middle Eastern societies portrayed in “From Sleep Unbound” and “Osama”?

Women in Middle Eastern societies have a history of suffering and hardship. Their society dictates them to be inferior to men in almost all ways, and they can be seen as prisoners, since they are trapped behind a wall of servitude to the men. Both Samya’s and Osama’s difficulties show frightening similarities in how they develop throughout both the film and the novel.
Marriage plays a gargantuan role in Middle Eastern society. It is of utmost importance for women to be married off at a young age. “Our cousin Souraya is over twenty and she’s not yet married! Her brothers are so embarrassed they hardly dare to show their faces in society!” Samya’s cousin is almost shunned by her family, while society around her completely disapproves of how old she is and that she hasn’t been married yet. Marriage at the time was rarely for love, and more for financial gain and social status. “Our affairs are going badly. If that gets around you’ll never find a husband” Samya’s father informs her casually that she is
Women are confined to various roles and places throughout both Osama and From Sleep Unbound. Osama, as a girl is expected to be confined home and by the end of the film she is forced into a life of servitude to a man whom she hates. At the same time, Boutros restricts Samya’s movements and free will around the house. “No more going into the village alone. You must maintain your position.” Boutros denies her from going to the only place where she is remotely happy, since he believes she must maintain a position. Repression revolves a lot around the men’s thoughts and ideas of how women should live their respective lives. Even when Samya tries to change the décor of the house even a tiny bit, she is immediately screamed at while her servant takes all the