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The Harem Within

by Fatema Mernissi
$8.90
The Harem Within
The Harem Within

Childhood memoir reveals harem life's complexities.

"The Harem Within" is a peek behind the curtain of societal norms and gender roles within traditional Muslim society, told through the intimate and personal lens of Fatima Mernissi's own experiences. It's not merely a story; it's a journey through cultural transitions, offering a unique perspective on the boundaries imposed by, and sometimes transcended by, women in mid-20th century Morocco. If you're intrigued by personal accounts that challenge and enlighten, this memoir is for you.

Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.

The Harem Within

by Fatema Mernissi
$8.90
Condition guide

Book Condition Guide

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This book may contain very minor cosmetic defects, but it is in pristine condition. There should be no yellowing, no foxing, no water damage, and no annotations of any kind on the cover and the pages. For paperbacks, there should not be any crease marks on the spine. This book is good as new — lucky you!

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

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This book has been used, but it is still in a clean condition. There should be no foxing or annotations of any kind on the inner pages, but a sparse amount may be present on the cover, title pages, or outside edges of the book. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be light crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

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We do our best to ensure the quality of our books, but there is no escaping the wear and tear that comes with time. Slight foxing and some annotations may be present on the pages and the cover. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be several crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Well Read Condition

This is a well-read book, which means that the previous owner probably really enjoyed it! The cover and pages may include moderate foxing and annotations, but the text is not obscured and still readable. Moderate cosmetic defects and minor water damage may be present on the edges of the book. For paperbacks, there may be multiple crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

 

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ISBN: 9780553408140
Authors: Fatema Mernissi
Publisher: Bantam
Date of Publication: 1995-01-01
Format: Paperback
Related Collections: Biographies & Memoirs, History
Related Topics: Memoir, Biography, Biography Memoir
Goodreads rating: 3.91
(rated by 6167 readers)

Description

As a little girl, Fatima Mernissi was often puzzled by the idea of the harem. Even if you accepted that men and women needed to be kept apart, she asked, why couldn't it be the woman who walked freely in the streets, while men stayed locked behind the harem gates? In this story, she tells of her childhood in a Fez harem in the 1940s, a period of social transition in Morocco. Yasmina, Fatima's grandmother, was one of nine co-wives. She had the freedom to go out and about on her husband's farm and the surrounding countryside, but she carried around within her the "hudud", or sacred frontier that separates women from men. Fatima's mother was an only wife, but she lived with the other women of her extended family inside an enclosed courtyard in the city, guarded by a gatekeeper whose sole duty it was to keep women from going out into the street. Fatima herself grew up in this enchanted prison, where contact with the outside world was often limited to the imaginary journeys in the tales of Aunt Habiba. But then the French colonists introduced schools for girls in Morocco, and in due course Fatima was able to leave the harem to forge an independent life. In this memoir, Fatima Mernissi shows clearly the roles assigned to women and men by traditional Muslim society. She also shows the intimacy and sense of fun that can unite
 

Childhood memoir reveals harem life's complexities.

"The Harem Within" is a peek behind the curtain of societal norms and gender roles within traditional Muslim society, told through the intimate and personal lens of Fatima Mernissi's own experiences. It's not merely a story; it's a journey through cultural transitions, offering a unique perspective on the boundaries imposed by, and sometimes transcended by, women in mid-20th century Morocco. If you're intrigued by personal accounts that challenge and enlighten, this memoir is for you.

Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.