barkylee15's review against another edition
4.0
I don't have much energy for real reviews, but honestly this was just really interesting on a topic that I hadn't thought much about!
elghazoly97's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Kept making me angry
scmohamedali's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
drifterontherun's review against another edition
4.0
Sigmund Freud famously believed that sexual repression was mankind's chief psychological problem and that repression in youth would manifest itself in adulthood. Nowhere do we see the evidence of this in greater display than the Arab world. Is there a single democracy in the Middle East that isn't ridden with corruption? Israel, while an exception, is also the sole non-Muslim country in the region. Does the problem lie then with Islam? Shereen El Feki, the author of Sex and the Citadel, would argue that this doesn't stem from Islam itself so much as a common byproduct of it- the refusal to acknowledge or talk about sex in anything other than a strictly masochistic and patriarchal way.
Surely, we have seen evidence of religiously imposed sexual repression throughout the centuries. That Islam appears to be at the forefront of this old evil today is made clearer during a section of the book dealing with the horrific crime of FGM- female genital mutilation.
“Leaders of the Coptic Church", we are told, "have staked a dramatic defense of girls under the knife. “What a look of fear and panic they will have in their eyes, what a horror … blood … bleeding and severe pain! It is a grave hazard to their present and to their futures when they marry and give birth. Therefore, we must take a decisive and firm stand against this harmful practice … from the Christian perspective—this practice has no religious grounds whatsoever,” say church authorities. The message is clearly getting through; today FGM rates are significantly lower in Egypt’s Christian communities than among their Muslim counterparts.”
If this a truly regional and geographic phenomenon, as Islamist apologists like Reza Aslan often posit, then why should the above hold true? Surely the following Hadith, attributed to the Prophet Muhammed, holds the answer:
“Do not cut too severely as that is better for a woman and more desirable for a husband.”
That Muhammed saw fit to give this advice to a woman in Medina who performed the aforementioned circumcisions is undoubtedly very considerate of him. That El Feki speaks with numerous Egyptians who cite this Hadith as reason for their continuing the cycle of tribal barbarism on their daughters is all the evidence necessary. If it FGM isn't a uniquely Muslim problem, it's certainly a predominately Muslim one.
The repression manifests itself later in adulthood in the absurd practice of “zawaj mut’a", or "pleasure marriage". This hilariously bizarre and moronic practice is viewed by Shi'a Muslims as a way of skirting Allah's merciless prohibition of premarital sex, in a sketch so stupendously dumb it simply couldn't be believed if it weren't true. One can't help but wonder what believers must think of their own devotion to a god so supremely foolish as to be made content by what amounts to little more than a cheap parlor trick. Surely the creation of the universe is too complicated an act for a deity so concerned with the proclivities of human genitalia. One wonders how the rest of the planet's mammals got off so easy.
Apparently, absurdity runs rampant in the Muslim world as in the case, detailed by El Feki, of "rabt". "Rabt", impotency as it is known in English, is widely thought by Egyptian Muslims to be the result of "mischievous jinn" (spirits) sent by someone with a grudge to afflict the targeted male. Others believe impotency to be caused by masturbation, lust, or- as always- America.
Though I lampoon it and all religions, Islam needs liberal reformers like Shereen El Feki to take it out of the dark ages. With FGM having occurred in over 80 percent of Egyptian women, spousal abuse an (admitted) reality for over a third, and a hopelessly corrupt political system, Islam seems to have wrought nothing but death and poverty on the majority of its adherents in the Middle East and North Africa. This is made clear time and time again with every victim El Feki interviews, be they gay, straight, female, or male.
Though Shereen El Feki uses Egypt largely as a microcosm for the Muslim world at large, she does observe life and speaks with individuals in Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, and Algeria as well. However, it would have been nice if she'd managed to spend some pages interviewing and telling us views on sex held by Muslims in such far flung countries as Indonesia as well.
If one can accuse the author of a bit of naivety, it would be her endless trumping of the Arab Spring as the beginning of the Muslim world's long needed revolution and her hope that then newly elected Islamists might take steps to further the revolution. Certainly in the case of Egypt, the revolution has appeared to do a 360, as the elected Muslim Brotherhood was ousted in a coup (supported it would seem, by the majority of the public) by the military, putting Egypt back into exactly the position it had found itself, pre-Tahrir.
If one is left with any newfound knowledge it is that Islam is one of the only remaining cults of virginity in the modern world, the rest having taken their place in the cemetery long ago. And that the voices of Islamic reformers like Shereen El Feki, Malala Yousafzai, and Maajid Naawaz should be encouraged, not turned down, as they represent the best chance Islam has to take part in the civilized world.
Surely, we have seen evidence of religiously imposed sexual repression throughout the centuries. That Islam appears to be at the forefront of this old evil today is made clearer during a section of the book dealing with the horrific crime of FGM- female genital mutilation.
“Leaders of the Coptic Church", we are told, "have staked a dramatic defense of girls under the knife. “What a look of fear and panic they will have in their eyes, what a horror … blood … bleeding and severe pain! It is a grave hazard to their present and to their futures when they marry and give birth. Therefore, we must take a decisive and firm stand against this harmful practice … from the Christian perspective—this practice has no religious grounds whatsoever,” say church authorities. The message is clearly getting through; today FGM rates are significantly lower in Egypt’s Christian communities than among their Muslim counterparts.”
If this a truly regional and geographic phenomenon, as Islamist apologists like Reza Aslan often posit, then why should the above hold true? Surely the following Hadith, attributed to the Prophet Muhammed, holds the answer:
“Do not cut too severely as that is better for a woman and more desirable for a husband.”
That Muhammed saw fit to give this advice to a woman in Medina who performed the aforementioned circumcisions is undoubtedly very considerate of him. That El Feki speaks with numerous Egyptians who cite this Hadith as reason for their continuing the cycle of tribal barbarism on their daughters is all the evidence necessary. If it FGM isn't a uniquely Muslim problem, it's certainly a predominately Muslim one.
The repression manifests itself later in adulthood in the absurd practice of “zawaj mut’a", or "pleasure marriage". This hilariously bizarre and moronic practice is viewed by Shi'a Muslims as a way of skirting Allah's merciless prohibition of premarital sex, in a sketch so stupendously dumb it simply couldn't be believed if it weren't true. One can't help but wonder what believers must think of their own devotion to a god so supremely foolish as to be made content by what amounts to little more than a cheap parlor trick. Surely the creation of the universe is too complicated an act for a deity so concerned with the proclivities of human genitalia. One wonders how the rest of the planet's mammals got off so easy.
Apparently, absurdity runs rampant in the Muslim world as in the case, detailed by El Feki, of "rabt". "Rabt", impotency as it is known in English, is widely thought by Egyptian Muslims to be the result of "mischievous jinn" (spirits) sent by someone with a grudge to afflict the targeted male. Others believe impotency to be caused by masturbation, lust, or- as always- America.
Though I lampoon it and all religions, Islam needs liberal reformers like Shereen El Feki to take it out of the dark ages. With FGM having occurred in over 80 percent of Egyptian women, spousal abuse an (admitted) reality for over a third, and a hopelessly corrupt political system, Islam seems to have wrought nothing but death and poverty on the majority of its adherents in the Middle East and North Africa. This is made clear time and time again with every victim El Feki interviews, be they gay, straight, female, or male.
Though Shereen El Feki uses Egypt largely as a microcosm for the Muslim world at large, she does observe life and speaks with individuals in Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, and Algeria as well. However, it would have been nice if she'd managed to spend some pages interviewing and telling us views on sex held by Muslims in such far flung countries as Indonesia as well.
If one can accuse the author of a bit of naivety, it would be her endless trumping of the Arab Spring as the beginning of the Muslim world's long needed revolution and her hope that then newly elected Islamists might take steps to further the revolution. Certainly in the case of Egypt, the revolution has appeared to do a 360, as the elected Muslim Brotherhood was ousted in a coup (supported it would seem, by the majority of the public) by the military, putting Egypt back into exactly the position it had found itself, pre-Tahrir.
If one is left with any newfound knowledge it is that Islam is one of the only remaining cults of virginity in the modern world, the rest having taken their place in the cemetery long ago. And that the voices of Islamic reformers like Shereen El Feki, Malala Yousafzai, and Maajid Naawaz should be encouraged, not turned down, as they represent the best chance Islam has to take part in the civilized world.
ecpritchard's review against another edition
4.0
Very interesting to get even a small insight into another culture. The concluding point that any form of 'sexual liberation' in the Arab world will not follow Western patterns was salient and is a principle should inform most international policy making.
mserageldin's review
1.0
Lots of research. Not in the right places. Certainly not in enough areas. The conclusions drawn seemed kind of banal at times, but very insightful at others. All in all, the book was enjoyable in the content presented. Yet, it was heavily influenced by a colonial gaze.
mkamatchi's review against another edition
4.0
This book has piqued my interest of women's studies through this lens. The book is well written and organized, topics are easily defined and put in the correct context. The chapter that discusses marriages intrigued me as well as the chapter on FGM. I found this eye opening and hope to delve into this topic further.
noiniewiem's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.75
Bardzo ciekawa książka. Zapoznała mnie z tematem mnie interesującym, ale z zupełnie innej perspektywy, bo perspektywy kręgu kulturowego, o którym - jako Europejka- wiem niewiele. Autorka w sposób ciekawy i wciągający opisuje różne zagadnienia wiązane z seksualnością, głównie Egipcjan, ale też innych krajów arabskich.
tehanuburningsoul's review against another edition
4.0
A truelly well written book that gives an overview of a variety of issues. Mrs. El Feki gives a great background, discusses laws as well as societal norms that don't necessarily overlap. Stresses the occuring changes in Middle East. My only concern would be that it concentrates mostly on Egypt and even though it is understandable in the context of her personal history and there are plenty of examples from other countries as well, they are not as indepth as the ones concerning Egypt.
Final thought? The book is lovely, easy to read and at the same time visibly very well research and supported with countless personal accounts as well as works of other scientists in the region and just overall a real pleasure.
Final thought? The book is lovely, easy to read and at the same time visibly very well research and supported with countless personal accounts as well as works of other scientists in the region and just overall a real pleasure.