Headscarves and Hymens: Why the Middle East Needs a Sexual Revolution

Such an honest book, I admire the author for this more than anything. She's angry and has every right to be and is doing something about it. I have no doubt as someone who wants to speak up about such uncomfortable truths she is and will get a lot of criticism. She doesn't deserve it, she should be thanked. Calls the war on muslim women's bodies, from all sides, for what it is. But I think a lot of muslim women are asleep to a lot of what she talks about which is why it is SUCH an important book. Peace to a true rebel. I mean that because its hard to find peaceful acceptance with a world that is so unjust.

Just found this to be current and relevant.

This is a very important book. Some of the subject matter is very challenging (particularly the parts relating to female genital mutilation) but I believe it should be read by all, especially those who have an interest in women's issues and women's rights. The author is truly brave and can only be commended for her courage to write this book. In 2011 during a protest in Cairo she was sexually assaulted, detained and beaten until her arms were broken. This book is a rallying cry to women all across the Middle East to question the patriarchal hegemony and to challenge the status quo. A must read.

I found this book to be an absolute revelation, the inhumanity of the human race never ceases to fill me with regret, and in particular the violence and cruelty displayed and perpetrated in the name of religion. This is exposed with great clarity in this book. It is to the eternal shame of all of us that it needed to be written, Maybe the gods that these vicious practices, in whose names they are carried out, will also hang their heads in shame. My congratulations to the author and my full admiration also for her willingness to expose, the cowardly disinterest, shown by both the west and east, in addressing the perpetual abuse of young girls and women.

An excellent onslaught by a Muslim woman upon the cruel, inhumane and irreligious practices suffered by women through the behaviour of hard line supposed Muslims in countries such as Saudi Arabia and Libya. It reminds us of what in the west of what we are prepared to overlook in the name of political expediency and out thirst for oil. Shame on us all.

This book makes for a scary read. True Islam and islamist are a bane for a civilized society. Their is no doubt that authentic reading of Quran and Hadith influence muslim men to behave in the abominable manner described in that book. The most scary thing is that there seems to be no way out for men, let alone women is Islam and truly Islamic countries for the simple reason that anybody leaving Islam is sanctioned by Islamic scripts to be put to death.

The journey Mona Eltahawy took me through was one of discovery not only of the situation of women in North Africa and the Middle East but also of the struggle all women had and have often to live in a predominantly accepted patriarchal society. None of us should keep quiet. Thank you for the reminder!

This book is a litany of complaints concerning the appalling treatment of women in the Arab world. Eltahany makes her case with considerable passion, but she totally fails to identify, or name the real cause of the female oppression which she so eloquently describes. The book is subtitled 'Why the Middle East needs a sexual revolution.' I'm afraid that this entirely misses the point, since what the Middle East really needs is a religious revolution: for the true cause of female subjugation in the Arab world is the intolerant religion of Islam. I'd have been much more impressed with Eltahany's arguments if she'd had the courage and wisdom to condemn the religion which gives rise to the dreadful misogyny endemic in Muslim societies across the globe. She could, like Ayaan Hersi Ali, have been far more forthright in her condemnation of the faith which provides the theological justification for the dreadful oppression of women in most Muslim countries. Until Muslim women recognise and acknowledge the religious foundation of their own suffering, I feel very little will change to improve the lot of most females living under the barbarism of Sharia law.

Un livre BRILLIANT et tres bien recherche - bravo pour le courage de Mona Eltahawy. Les femmes europeennes doivent se rendre compte le luxe de la liberte.

Mona Eltahawy is one of the most prominent voices in the Muslim feminist movement today. Her experiences working with women in conflict areas and her history of activism and public speaking have contributed richly to this book. The book is a must-read, in my opinion. It unfolds the dire situation facing Muslim women, and is a battlecry for a sexual awakening and revolution. Eltahawy's words are loud and clear- the Middle East must fight for sexual agency and freedom, and without that, nothing is possible.

Interesante, aún lo estoy leyendo

Read this book. Mona is a vocal, fierce and confident author on the subject matter: women in the Middle East. I read the book in one day and couldn't put it down. As an Arab American woman who lived in the Middle East for part of my life, I can attest to Mona's authentic narrative. This should be an essential read for anyone interested in foreign politics. It's also an important read for those of us raised in the repressive culture. It's time that we confront our issues: culture of mysogny intertwined with culture and religion which is holding back women from being free. As Mona so finely states it's time for a double revolution which starts at home! Talk about sex and desire. Liberate yourselves from the chain of patriarchy and live life! Not to mention the issue of FGM, child marriages, marital rape, rape victims being forced to marry their rapist, sexual harassment and the issue of controlling women's bodies.

So well written, and full of important information. A must-read!