Iraq Women Analysis

Women in Iraq live a significantly different life from women in the west. The culture in 1950’s Iraq differs from that in the west in many way, and Fatima, being a woman from the rural village of El Nahra, would be closer to more traditional Iraqi culture than a woman from Baghdad or other cities. She would place a greater emphasis on family, a woman’s responsibility to her family, and more traditional interpretations of the Koran. Fatima would argue that the position of women in Iraqi culture is superior to that in the west because of stronger family ties, influence over their families and care of elderly family members, especially women. Fatima would not see the freedoms that women in the west hold dear as much of a benefit, she would instead
Fatima would not see this as freedom, woman’s social circle is her family and other women and the most important woman is her mother. When Elizabeth Fernea first meets Sheik Hamid’s wives, they pitied her that Robert would force her to travel to a strange place without her mother or other family support (p 35-36). This is further highlighted in the discussion of the weddings of by Fernea. When she meets Sahura who would be marrying her cousin and traveling away to live in his village, one member of the village comments that she was glad her daughter didn’t have to move away as it was hard on both the mother and daughter (p 139). Mothers play important roles throughout the life of a woman, she is present when her daughter consummates her wedding (p. 147). Furthermore, a mother’s importance in the family is further emphasized in the story of Salima and Khalil’s marriage. Khalil, in an attempt to ensure he was able to marry Salima, approached Salima’s father, without consulting his mother on the match, which greatly offended Khalil’s mother and caused strife between his bride and mother (p.