Not Without My Daughter Analysis

The Western Culture is more of an open-minded mentality. Over the years, specifically the American Land had welcomed different people from different nationalities, they all lived together on the same territory, coexisting; that explains the tolerance its people have towards foreigners. The Arab Culture is found to be realistically less impartial than the Western. Particularly in Iran, the citizens are fanatics of their religion, especially since the 80’s, after the Iranian Revolution and the establishment of the Islamic Republic. At that time, Iranians weren't happy under the reign of Emperor Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi because of the allegiance to the west during Cold war and the political reforms, which include women's right to vote. Most
Later on, the American Embassy was attacked then closed. And yet, Americans and Iranians remain enemies. Domestic violence is defined as a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to maintain power and control over another. It can be physical, economic, sexual, emotional, psychological or threatening. Not without My Daughter is a book written by Betty Mahmoody; it tells the story of an American woman (Betty herself), who married a man with Iranian origins. After few years of marriage, he decided to go to Iran on a two-week vacation with his wife and daughter; there, she found herself and Mahtob prisoners in Iran, a land where Americans are despised and women are inferior in society. Her only hope is to risk her life and escape this living hell, with Mahtob, her daughter. Is the behavior of Moody, the husband, acceptable in the Western culture? And the Iranian culture? Men are not allowed to use any sort of abuse against their family members (wife, daughter) no matter what their country’s rules or religion say or imply. Violence, oppression and submission are not acceptable by any
As a hostage, she had no reference, no support by any American governmental institution in Iran; she had no right to leave the country without the consent of her husband. According to the article 976, every woman with a foreign nationality who marries an Iranian husband is considered to be Iranian (Law, 2015). Also, the article 105 of the Civil Code states that the man is responsible in the relationship between a man and a woman as head of the family. “A woman cannot leave her home without her husband’s permission, even to attend her father’s funeral” (Forum, 2005). Betty tried to find help in the Swiss Embassy even though they are also not allowed to help American/Iranians, she was only able to get to call her parents, without anyone knowing. A form of submission to men is highly visible in the Iranian culture/