This morning I read the reviews over at Amazon for Asma Gull Hasan’s book. There were many people who didn’t like the book. Here is one review that I found interesting from a Saudi woman:
Contrary to popular media stereotypes, Saudi women are more privileged than men (men need to drive, women get chauffers; men must work for a living, women may or may not choose to work or own businesses etc; men must drop everything pray in the mosque on Fridays, women may pray at home mosque; only men must pay dowry to women when signing the marriage contract).
I have heard this tripe before from Muslims in exactly these words more than once, so it must be written or promulgated somewhere prominent (to be sure, the anti-ERA movement in the 1970s also tried to push this message). For some women, an infantile position in society with no responsibilities as wards of men might be an optimal solution. Needless to say, this sort of mind-set isn’t ideal for faciltating for the maintenance of a republic.
Posted by razib at 04:27 PM