Harem Years: The Memoirs of an Egyptian Feminist, 1879-1924

An interesting biography of Huda Shaarawi, drawing upon some her own past diary entries. Huda Shaarawi grew up in the Harem - the area of a house in Egypt where well-off women stayed, separate from the rest of the building and society in general. Contact with others, especially men or travel, was closely controlled and subject to strict etiquette. Coming from a wealthy family, she was able to fight for a good education and received it. Her growing dissatisfaction with this control over women by men and society, coupled with women playing a prominent role in fighting for Egyptian independence and becoming aware of feminist ideas and writings, led Shaarawi to develop her own movement in Egypt, with friends and companions. She helped to show more end the Harem system and founded the beginnings of women's rights in the country. show less

Disappointing. The "Harem Years" were a dull memoir of privilege, and the later years where she became involved in anti-colonialism and feminism were only lightly touched on in the last chapter.

if you want to learn about upper-class feminism under ottoman and british rule, this is the book for you. i can't say i liked it much.