An American Woman in Saudi Arabia by Sabeeha Rehman 2022 Hardcover
$ 6.09
Topic:
Women, Middle East / General
Item Width:
6 in
Publisher:
Skyhorse Publishing Company, Incorporated
LCCN:
2022-937475
brand:
Skyhorse Publishing Company, Incorporated
Dewey Decimal:
305.4209538
Genre:
Travel, Biography & Autobiography
ISBN-10:
1956763023
Illustrator:
Yes
Publication Year:
2022
Item Length:
9 in
Language:
English
Author:
Sabeeha Rehman
Item Height:
1.2 in
Item Weight:
17 Oz
Synopsis:
It's Not What You Think is a wry, incisive account of working in Saudi Arabia that offers insight into that insular patriarchal society, what is so attractive to expatriates living there, and what was contradictory or confining about it for a naturalised American who is a woman and a Muslim., From the author of Threading My Prayer Rug , an eye-opening view of life in Saudi Arabia. It's Not What You Think is a wry, incisive account of working in Saudi Arabia that offers insight into that insular patriarchal society, what is so attractive to expatriates living there, and what was contradictory or confining about it for a naturalized American who is a woman and a Muslim. A hospital executive in New Jersey, Sabeeha relocated with her oncologist husband to Riyadh, the most conservative city in the country, intending to remain two years. They ended up staying for six. Her book takes the reader on a journey of discovery that mirrors her own. Offered an influential position at Riyadh's most prestigious hospital, she first has to obtain her husband's permission to work. In public spaces, she quickly encounters the morality police but also learns the freedom of the abaya. Sales men staff the lingerie department. Women in Riyadh do not work in public places, yet they hold positions of authority within corporate culture; and outside Riyadh, she discovers that women-owned-and-operated businesses flourish, and Bedouin women could drive in the desert decades before Riyadh's ban was relaxed. Through Sabeeha's eyes, we see how Saudi and Western expat cultures coexist within the boundaries of "don't ask, don't tell," how traditions define the identity of the Saudi nation, and how to discern what is "culturally appropriate" versus what is required legally. As she dons pilgrim's garb, we join her on the hajj, to discover the intensity and spiritual high of the devout.
Intended Audience:
Trade
Book Title:
It's Not What You Think : an American Woman in Saudi Arabia
LC Classification Number:
HQ1730
Dewey Edition:
23
Number of Pages:
320 Pages
ISBN-13:
9781956763027
gtin13:
9781956763027
Format:
Hardcover
This book completely changed my perspective! A beautifully written, eye-opening memoir that reads like a novel. I couldn't put it down and finished it in one sitting. Highly recommend for anyone curious about different cultures.