Book Club post #1

In the first five chapters of "Princess: ATrue Story of Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia" by Jean Sasson I found the condition of life for women in Saudi Arabia quite disturbing. Although women did not gain a right to vote until 1920 in the U.S. and there were laws intact until the mid 19th century allowing men to physically punish their wives, the cold treatment of women and children is not the custom here. The part of the story I found most disturbing is the way Ali treats his sister, and how their father condones. It seems inhuman to have young girls exposed to such hostility and cruelty as their brother tossed their found puppy out of the window of a moving car. Ali's sadistic ways seem to be learned from his father but also a precedent for Saudi Arabian men in this story. The narrator even makes statements revealing this: "I was a female who was shackled by males unburdened with consequence"and "In our land, brilliance in a woman assures her future misery, for there is nowhere to focus her genius." In a society where men dictate their women, their ability to acquire intelligence or independence is minimal and would be frowned upon. The sister of the narrator, Sara, was even tranquilized to endure her own wedding, to a man almost five times her age, by her father. The fact that Sara had no say in her marriage is startling but the fact that it is acceptable for a father to tranquilize his own daughter made my stomach turn.