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Western Influence and Women of the Middle East

Posted by AWN (Final Paper -2) on January 10, 2003 at 13:21:29:

Kyla Hakim
Arab Women Novelists
M. Jiyad
December 17, 2002

Western Influence and Women of the Middle East
The omnipresence of the American and European culture in the countries of the Middle East is a universally recognized phenomenon. The culture, thoughts and status quo of the people have been and continually are being changed and challenged due the mass spread of American goods and ideas. The American national culture largely revolves around the wants, needs and goals of the individual. As the one of the greatest superpowers of the time, its influence on the global community towards the focus on the individual is nothing short of inevitable. The movies, clothing and new age mentality of America are sending all people regardless of age, upbringing and locale, into a grand scale social transition. The Arabs and Muslims beliefs, traditions and entire state of being are no longer as they were 20 or 30 years ago. The women of the novels, Nadia, Fatima, Umm Saad, Maha, Asya, and Su’ad, each living in various Arab countries with unique situations of their own, all are united on the common ground of American introduced idea and concepts of individualism through such venues as feminism, capitalism, sexism and consumerism which adversely affect their society.
Religious values of the predominately Muslim culture in Nadia al-Faqih in A Woman of Five Seasons are at a point where their practice will bring great adversity to her new found way of life. Nadia is married into a life of luxury where her husband Ihsan is in a constant state of yearning for greater wealth and lusting after other worldly gains. She is pushed into a life where what she should want, the latest fashions, perfumes, and celebrity magazines are constantly thrust in her face.
He took that good book from my hands and put stupid magazines in their place, and I read them! He asked what was in them, and I told him. When we came to Barqais, he planted me among the families of his friends, among people who thought of nothing but money and getting money. The emptiness started hemming in me (Five Seasons 33)
Nadia feels the strain in her marriage due to her husband s greed and capitalist ideals. His sole goal through out the novel is to be in competition with his brother. The belief that individualism is the key to having success in the business world dominates her husband. Individualism removes one from the society as whole and focus on ones own goals and ideals rather than the greater good of the society, which is the traditional manner of the Arab and Muslim societies. This new practice of removing oneself from the community unfavorably affects the societal mores Nadia tries to adhere to. She wants to be a dutiful wife and desperately clings to the tradition of "…that Bedouin woman long ago, whose advice to her daughters has been passed down through generations of women… ‘Do whatever he tells you. Keep all his secrets. Let him only find the purest fragrance on you" (33)
The treatment she receives from Ihsan sparks feelings in Nadia that have strong feminist connotations. The pet name "kitten" and his constant nagging concerning her looks and demeanor needing to be at a superior level to promote his business dealings irritate her immensely. " Has he any idea, when he sees me as his ‘woman’ of the way a great snake bites at me? A rebellious snake, but helpless too. It coils around, deep inside me" (34). The feminist concept consists of breaking free from the control of men and being a woman as a separate entity not a "woman as a type of man", an idea as expressed by well known feminist Aminah Wadud in her book Qur’an and Woman. "There’s another person inside of me, sexless, a person who feels and thinks and suffer sand makes me suffer. A person who doesn’t know the meaning of female and male, who rises above anything Ihsan ever thinks about (34-35) Nadia wants to stand up to her Ihsan and demand that he see her as a person and not ‘his woman’, again another feminist ideal that promotes individualism.
For Nadia, the aspect of individualism is mainly through feminist oriented feeling and ideas. Her capitalistic minded husband however only prompts her feelings of resentment toward him. The chain reactions sparked by these concepts are directly affecting the society in which they live. Following another dinner party where she is to be yet again a business tool for Ihsan, she receives a gift from the hostess. This greatly upsets Ihsan who scolds her for praising the hostess as it might result in a bad business. The soul purpose of their marriage has been reduced to this business venture as well as producing Nadia’s growing contempt for her husband. Being both unattached from the society, and working towards personal goals their relationships increasingly deteriorates and thus spreads to those around them. Nadia’s situation is a difficult one in which to lay blame for the failures in marriage but with either party holding a share of the blame the truth lays in the ideas that corrupted the societies norms on its first introduction.
The novel progresses with Nadia being more assertive and demanding on Ihsan- diverging from the societal practice of the e obedient wife. She taxes him with requests and consequently causes him much grief.
We have deposited in your account the amount of two hundred thousand dollars at the rate of five American dollars per gram…’Who said I wanted gold…I want land’
‘Look, half the women in the world couldn’t dream of having what I have given you. Nothing impresses you! And you’d rather have land than gold?’
‘No buy me that from the next deal. I’ll keep the gold (78)

Nadia wants her husband to recognize her attempts at exerting authority in the relationship. The animosity she feels towards him is directly tied his attitude of superiority and arrogance. Nadia also wants to see how far her authority goes in her relationship. To disobey your husband is a very negative issue for women and men in Islam. May women consequently are physically harmed by their spouses when such disturbance.
The other ‘person’ that ‘rebellious snake’ she feels inside of her grows as her relationship with Ihsan grows further apart. As she gains most strength and authority when she speaks her mind to Ihsan, the feeling within her intensifies. His next business deal that is in the works for Ihsan is larger than the previous. As Ihsan speaks to his business partner the first question that comes to his mind is "Shall I bring Nadia along?" (81) Not only does her husband regard Nadia as a business tool she also has the great benefit of qualifying as an object of lust and desire. Nadia explains that she feels that "Ihsan treats me as his toy and then goes happily off to sleep" (35). The values and sanctity of marriage have been diminished because Ihsan buys into the American work ethic and capitalistic mentality where work is everything and whatever it takes to get the money is what will be done. ’For the sake of the money is what Nadia must deal with and she is made to obey Ihsan’s summons for shopping sprees where she is bought the latest American fashion despite the lack of modesty of the outfits. Nadia repeatedly asked Ihsan t leave her out of his scheme and dealings but does remain faithful as she tries to be the dutiful wife unfortunately here for the wrong reasons.
It is of course the willingness of the people to follow the new ideas and way of life that America presents as so appealing. Although Nadia’s feminist tendencies bud from the same belief of individualism, her part in the situation is imposed upon her more than a chosen way; for if Ihsan would resist the sparkle and allure of the materialistic world flaunted by the American global influence and with this would be a greater harmony in the way that the their Arab culture and Muslim values have been ordained. It is wondrous that a nation brimming full of prosperity and at the height of modernity can introduce such an array of destructive ideas as a model of how a society should be. The exorbitant life style changes made for the people like Nadia is not resulting in a productive public in the social arena. While more money and products come with great conveniences maybe deceiving the people into loving this new modern life the reality still remains that the concentration on self and individual gain has run rampant and infected the minds of these people and adversely affecting other who interact with their immediate and extended social positions.
In Fadia Fakir’s Pillars of Salt, Maha, a Bedouin lives in the rural and undeveloped farmlands of Jordan. At the time of Maha, the French troops are beginning to occupy the city and surrounding areas. Businessmen are interested in ‘making good use of the land’ as opposed to leaving it the way it is and continuing to allow the perfect progress that has existed to continue. Daffash, Maha’s elder brother, is like another Ihsan. His involved with the capitalist oriented businessmen like Samir Pasha, thus making Daffash an advocate for their cause. He believes the only way to bring about success is through the modern industry thus the English were the obvious people to talk with. There are many business deals, some of which take place the home of Sheik Nemir. Women who do not respect the values of the Islamic religion are brought over to the house. Maha fears they have no shame in front of men. She is quite embarrassed when Daffash brings home tow English girls who are in her eyes closer to naked that to dressed. Maha wonders if she should bring for them an hijab and robe to cover up their revealed bodies. This, she wonders questioningly, is what the ‘modern woman’ is; this, is how she presents herself, "I felt like heating some water and washing the colors off their faces…The shame of it"(33). Maha feels that the British women are quite ignorant and fake, fooling themselves by painting on their youthful faces, all the while they are supposed to be refines and intellectual individuals.
To take over the land of his father to use for the British is his plan as soon as he inherits it. However, much to his displeasure their father Sheikh Nemir bequeathed all the land and the house to Maha, "The land must go to its ploughman. No, ploughwoman. The land is yours, Maha. This is my will. I have said it in front of the imam and Raai. Daffash does not deserve one span of it. It belongs to your son after you. They have witnessed my will"(180).
As a woman Maha’s role is quite different in that she still lives with her father and brother yet she is the sole provider. Her father is too weak to pride and Daffash is off chasing money and women wherever he can find them. It is the responsibility of the eldest male child to care for the family in this situation. A Muslim family is always to keep close ties and care for the parents when they are no longer to care for themselves. While Maha faced the many of the same issues as Nadia because of Ihsan she must also carry the burden of supporting her father and caring for the land due to her brothers laziness and greed. She works to her hardest to compensate for Daffash as he blindly joins forces with the foreign invaders.
Early on Maha is forced to deal with the rape of her closest friend Nasra at the hands of Daffash. There is clear evidence that labels Daffash as a womanizer. "She asked for it. Whenever she set her greedy eyes on me…she tempted me"(12) is his excuse when Maha holds him at gun point. This is not the only crime he committed, as he is a traitor to the family and the village. He brings his friend from the city to try to persuade his father to give it all up and become wealthy from it. He desperately is really being used by the British soldiers he is blinded in to believing are his trusted friends. The husband of Maha fights against the soldiers in organized raids and he as well as the rest of his companions were slain, their bodies disfigured. And still these are the people that Daffash worships, the killers of his sister’s beloved. Greed is not associated with one particular ethnicity, race or nation but the practice of a capitalist revolves around the concept of personal gain. It has long been taught in Islam that, "One should want for his brother what he wants for himself"(Hadith, Bukhari) so these belief of individualism is detrimental to the established Islamic religion and culture.
Daffash has little respect for any of his family which quite striking where as the treatment of parents of a Muslim are crucial in the determining of the persons fate in the afterlife. After the death of Harb and Sheikh Nemir one can see the extent of Daffash’s insatiable exertions in obtaining the riches of the world and the acceptance of the British. In a meeting with some of his women friends she exclaims, " You are an open minded Arab. Not many of them around" Maha and Sheikh Nemir refer to him over and over as a ‘city lover’ where they have their ‘fake light" and range rovers. As Daffash alienates himself from his family more Maha’s resentment grows. "My chest tightened as Daffash held my suckling. ‘ Your uncle will teach you how to ride and shoot and drive’. I wish Daffash would leave me alone; leave my son alone…"(144). She fears for the future of her infant son Mubarak. Daffash will be the one to raise Mubarak should anything happen to Maha. She fears with good reason: Will he also come to love the city and their new foreign masters? Rape a woman? Beat his mother? Daffash and his selfish nature coupled with his fascination if the British and their way of life cause much grief and hardship for the family of Sheikh Nemir and the other people of Hamia. Living in as a tribe in the village of Hamia naturally comes with a strong feeling of community and Daffash’s involvement with the British and their imperialistic dealing endangered the people of Hamia from the beginning of their relationship. Selfish acts on behalf of his greed and indifference brought about various unfortunate and inauspicious occasions.
The great conflict during wartime is enough hardship with out dealing with the ling engrained influence of American and European culture on the people of he Middle East. In A balcony over the Fakihani (Liyana Badr) Su’ad a girl residing in Palestine during the time of the Lebanese civil war. Her family is known for taking in freedom fighters and others fighting for the liberation of Palestine. It is one day at her home that she meets Umar. He has come and went many times before but she had not expressed ad interest in him or any others. In Islam marriage is one of he most sacred bonds and is taken most seriously from finding a partner until the of each others days. Here Su’ad does not adhere to these standards. The last time she has seen "his friendly presence"(Fakihani 38) was while in her parents home she has an encounter with him as he washes his face
…I ran to fetch a towel for him from the bathroom. He wiped his face and opened his eyes; then he asked me if I would marry him. I felt confused and uncomfortable, not because he asked, but because of what my family might say. When I plucked enough courage to tell them my mother gave her consent, but my father was more reluctant (38-39)

This situation is not all that incoming except for that another people go the brides father to ask for her hand first before having asked her. Su’ads parents did not have much of an opinion on the matter and either gave their consent or she would do as she pleased. In Su’ad situation religion rarely play a part in her actions and decisions and seems to follow a traditionally western way of finding a husband. By doing this she is displeasing her family and that is right to both not to be changed It is also common for an American newly wed to chose a hone of their own neither matrilocal nor patrilocal where here Sauced almost immediately follows Umar to Beirut. "My God, the whole situation was becoming such a maze of difficulties that a trip to that moon seemed straightforward by comparison (41). Just as with the case of Maha one should not cut ties with family and kin so that one may maintain a close and nurturing relationship with family.
Fatima Mernissi, one of he most prominent figure in the feminist movement of Egypt ha compiled a book of about experiences inside the harem. As a young girl and throughout her teenage years she is constantly in the face of a social revolution. Fatima’s mother tells her early on in her childhood, "You have to learn to scream and protest just the way you learned to walk and talk" (Dreams of Trespass 9). Fatima’s mother is adamantly against women covering with the veil and being confined to the harem enforced by her husband. Fatima’s aunts, mother and maidservant are empowering lifelines and perfect image of what kind of woman she wants to become. Yasmina tries to explain to Fatima and the other women that there are certain ‘invisible rules’ set for men and women,
For example, she said, both men and women work from dawn until very late at night. But men made money and women did not. That was one of the invisible rules. And when a women worked hard, and was not thinking of money, she was stuck in a harem, even though she could not see the walls. "Maybe the rules are ruthless but they are not made by women". "The moment women get smart and start asking questions ,instead of dutifully cooking and washing al the time, they will find a way to change the rue and turn this planet upside down (Trespass 63)

Yasmina tries to explain in a subtle way that the men of their society are wrong in their sexist views. She is empowering to Fatima who is an extremely impractical and idealistic child with a great deal to learn. Fatima naivete however allows her to explore many opportunities and ask questions, which open new venues for her. The confinement to the harem while hindering her childhood fun of exploring the world beyond the gates does in fact let Fatima internalize her experience and reflect on how it directly affects the way she lives in the harem. Samir was always her closest friend even when they had come to an age when all children entering the stage of adolescence attempt to exercise their ‘pseudointellecuality’.
The down graded status if the woman in Egypt at the time was heavily die to the sexist ideas of men. Sexism however does have its own roots in any culture so to label it as solely introduced buy the West is a clear error. However the Western influences through other socioeconomic venues have indoctrinated the ideals of American culture into the minds of the Arabs previously discussed. ‘Be like the West’, accomplish what they have and strive to attain the material status they have is very much appealing to all people so that the ideas and concepts ,that America especially, live by are accepted. Fatima is now at a point where she is being told this is not the way she should be treated and she is the next generation that will have to work against the oppression where her aunts and her mother have left off. Fatima is very concerned about living forever behind these walls of the harem and Yasmina says to her,
You’ll miss out on happiness if you think too much about walls and rules, my dear child. The ultimate goal of a woman’s life is happiness. So don’t spend your time looking for walls to bang your head on. Do you understand what I mean?"
Fatima then truly beings to understand that she in fact does a purpose that extends beyond the ‘walls’.
The contradiction in this situation is that the freedom and equality that Fatima’s mother is fighting for is to not to return to the Arabia way of life and the Muslim values and laws. She wants to embrace the Western culture believing that it will enhance the progressive movement of the women. Fatima recalls,
My mother always insisted on dressing me in the latest Western fashions –short, fluffy lace dresses with colored ribbons and shiny black shoes…I would often beg her to let me wear my comfortable sarwal (harem pants), or any traditional outfit, which required led attention (85)
Her mother is steadfast in her beliefs that the former Islamic laws set upon the women are not in anyway the laws that will help women or liberate them in any sense. "Covering your head and hiding will not help. Hiding does not solve women’s problems. It just identifies her as an easy victim. Your grandmother and I have I have suffered enough of this head-covering business. We know it does not work. I want my daughters to stand with their heads erect…" (100) With that Fatima’s mother snatches the scarf from her daughter head, leaving the girl feeling incomplete and defenseless. The influence from America and the British who at one time had the been the major western influence have successfully instilled into the minds of many women that their culture restricts them. They believe that in order to free themselves from this newly realized oppression they must follow in the footsteps of the successful people . Materialistic values run the minds of weak people. The people who blindly follow these concepts are in reality hindering their goals. They equate worldly success and wealth with the ultimate success one could have. It leaves no room to consider that the true understanding of their previous way of living could possible the better of the two ways they could possibly choose.
With all things said one can understand that the values and ideals so highly prized do in fact have a great influence on the cultures and societies they involve themselves with. Understanding that power and wealth, both of which America greatly possess, gives people impression of the counties superiority, it is undoubtedly that this influence will affect them in such a way that America, to them, is the definition of fruition. Thus in there societies they too will impose the norms and social as well as economic values upon their people in order to attempt to attain the same great achievements. In every one of these books it becomes apparent in at least one way that the women and those around them, whether it is realized or not, have been greatly affect in the most adverse way.

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: Kyla Hakim : Arab Women Novelists : M. Jiyad : December 17, 2002 : Western Influence and Women of the Middle East : The omnipresence of the American and European culture in the countries of the Middle East is a universally recognized phenomenon. The culture, thoughts and status quo of the people have been and continually are being changed and challenged due the mass spread of American goods and ideas. The American national culture largely revolves around the wants, needs and goals of the individual. As the one of the greatest superpowers of the time, its influence on the global community towards the focus on the individual is nothing short of inevitable. The movies, clothing and new age mentality of America are sending all people regardless of age, upbringing and locale, into a grand scale social transition. The Arabs and Muslims beliefs, traditions and entire state of being are no longer as they were 20 or 30 years ago. The women of the novels, Nadia, Fatima, Umm Saad, Maha, Asya, and Su’ad, each living in various Arab countries with unique situations of their own, all are united on the common ground of American introduced idea and concepts of individualism through such venues as feminism, capitalism, sexism and consumerism which adversely affect their society. : Religious values of the predominately Muslim culture in Nadia al-Faqih in A Woman of Five Seasons are at a point where their practice will bring great adversity to her new found way of life. Nadia is married into a life of luxury where her husband Ihsan is in a constant state of yearning for greater wealth and lusting after other worldly gains. She is pushed into a life where what she should want, the latest fashions, perfumes, and celebrity magazines are constantly thrust in her face. : He took that good book from my hands and put stupid magazines in their place, and I read them! He asked what was in them, and I told him. When we came to Barqais, he planted me among the families of his friends, among people who thought of nothing but money and getting money. The emptiness started hemming in me (Five Seasons 33) : Nadia feels the strain in her marriage due to her husband s greed and capitalist ideals. His sole goal through out the novel is to be in competition with his brother. The belief that individualism is the key to having success in the business world dominates her husband. Individualism removes one from the society as whole and focus on ones own goals and ideals rather than the greater good of the society, which is the traditional manner of the Arab and Muslim societies. This new practice of removing oneself from the community unfavorably affects the societal mores Nadia tries to adhere to. She wants to be a dutiful wife and desperately clings to the tradition of "…that Bedouin woman long ago, whose advice to her daughters has been passed down through generations of women… ‘Do whatever he tells you. Keep all his secrets. Let him only find the purest fragrance on you" (33) : The treatment she receives from Ihsan sparks feelings in Nadia that have strong feminist connotations. The pet name "kitten" and his constant nagging concerning her looks and demeanor needing to be at a superior level to promote his business dealings irritate her immensely. " Has he any idea, when he sees me as his ‘woman’ of the way a great snake bites at me? A rebellious snake, but helpless too. It coils around, deep inside me" (34). The feminist concept consists of breaking free from the control of men and being a woman as a separate entity not a "woman as a type of man", an idea as expressed by well known feminist Aminah Wadud in her book Qur’an and Woman. "There’s another person inside of me, sexless, a person who feels and thinks and suffer sand makes me suffer. A person who doesn’t know the meaning of female and male, who rises above anything Ihsan ever thinks about (34-35) Nadia wants to stand up to her Ihsan and demand that he see her as a person and not ‘his woman’, again another feminist ideal that promotes individualism. : For Nadia, the aspect of individualism is mainly through feminist oriented feeling and ideas. Her capitalistic minded husband however only prompts her feelings of resentment toward him. The chain reactions sparked by these concepts are directly affecting the society in which they live. Following another dinner party where she is to be yet again a business tool for Ihsan, she receives a gift from the hostess. This greatly upsets Ihsan who scolds her for praising the hostess as it might result in a bad business. The soul purpose of their marriage has been reduced to this business venture as well as producing Nadia’s growing contempt for her husband. Being both unattached from the society, and working towards personal goals their relationships increasingly deteriorates and thus spreads to those around them. Nadia’s situation is a difficult one in which to lay blame for the failures in marriage but with either party holding a share of the blame the truth lays in the ideas that corrupted the societies norms on its first introduction. : The novel progresses with Nadia being more assertive and demanding on Ihsan- diverging from the societal practice of the e obedient wife. She taxes him with requests and consequently causes him much grief. : We have deposited in your account the amount of two hundred thousand dollars at the rate of five American dollars per gram…’Who said I wanted gold…I want land’ : ‘Look, half the women in the world couldn’t dream of having what I have given you. Nothing impresses you! And you’d rather have land than gold?’ : ‘No buy me that from the next deal. I’ll keep the gold (78) : Nadia wants her husband to recognize her attempts at exerting authority in the relationship. The animosity she feels towards him is directly tied his attitude of superiority and arrogance. Nadia also wants to see how far her authority goes in her relationship. To disobey your husband is a very negative issue for women and men in Islam. May women consequently are physically harmed by their spouses when such disturbance. : The other ‘person’ that ‘rebellious snake’ she feels inside of her grows as her relationship with Ihsan grows further apart. As she gains most strength and authority when she speaks her mind to Ihsan, the feeling within her intensifies. His next business deal that is in the works for Ihsan is larger than the previous. As Ihsan speaks to his business partner the first question that comes to his mind is "Shall I bring Nadia along?" (81) Not only does her husband regard Nadia as a business tool she also has the great benefit of qualifying as an object of lust and desire. Nadia explains that she feels that "Ihsan treats me as his toy and then goes happily off to sleep" (35). The values and sanctity of marriage have been diminished because Ihsan buys into the American work ethic and capitalistic mentality where work is everything and whatever it takes to get the money is what will be done. ’For the sake of the money is what Nadia must deal with and she is made to obey Ihsan’s summons for shopping sprees where she is bought the latest American fashion despite the lack of modesty of the outfits. Nadia repeatedly asked Ihsan t leave her out of his scheme and dealings but does remain faithful as she tries to be the dutiful wife unfortunately here for the wrong reasons. : It is of course the willingness of the people to follow the new ideas and way of life that America presents as so appealing. Although Nadia’s feminist tendencies bud from the same belief of individualism, her part in the situation is imposed upon her more than a chosen way; for if Ihsan would resist the sparkle and allure of the materialistic world flaunted by the American global influence and with this would be a greater harmony in the way that the their Arab culture and Muslim values have been ordained. It is wondrous that a nation brimming full of prosperity and at the height of modernity can introduce such an array of destructive ideas as a model of how a society should be. The exorbitant life style changes made for the people like Nadia is not resulting in a productive public in the social arena. While more money and products come with great conveniences maybe deceiving the people into loving this new modern life the reality still remains that the concentration on self and individual gain has run rampant and infected the minds of these people and adversely affecting other who interact with their immediate and extended social positions. : In Fadia Fakir’s Pillars of Salt, Maha, a Bedouin lives in the rural and undeveloped farmlands of Jordan. At the time of Maha, the French troops are beginning to occupy the city and surrounding areas. Businessmen are interested in ‘making good use of the land’ as opposed to leaving it the way it is and continuing to allow the perfect progress that has existed to continue. Daffash, Maha’s elder brother, is like another Ihsan. His involved with the capitalist oriented businessmen like Samir Pasha, thus making Daffash an advocate for their cause. He believes the only way to bring about success is through the modern industry thus the English were the obvious people to talk with. There are many business deals, some of which take place the home of Sheik Nemir. Women who do not respect the values of the Islamic religion are brought over to the house. Maha fears they have no shame in front of men. She is quite embarrassed when Daffash brings home tow English girls who are in her eyes closer to naked that to dressed. Maha wonders if she should bring for them an hijab and robe to cover up their revealed bodies. This, she wonders questioningly, is what the ‘modern woman’ is; this, is how she presents herself, "I felt like heating some water and washing the colors off their faces…The shame of it"(33). Maha feels that the British women are quite ignorant and fake, fooling themselves by painting on their youthful faces, all the while they are supposed to be refines and intellectual individuals. : To take over the land of his father to use for the British is his plan as soon as he inherits it. However, much to his displeasure their father Sheikh Nemir bequeathed all the land and the house to Maha, "The land must go to its ploughman. No, ploughwoman. The land is yours, Maha. This is my will. I have said it in front of the imam and Raai. Daffash does not deserve one span of it. It belongs to your son after you. They have witnessed my will"(180). : As a woman Maha’s role is quite different in that she still lives with her father and brother yet she is the sole provider. Her father is too weak to pride and Daffash is off chasing money and women wherever he can find them. It is the responsibility of the eldest male child to care for the family in this situation. A Muslim family is always to keep close ties and care for the parents when they are no longer to care for themselves. While Maha faced the many of the same issues as Nadia because of Ihsan she must also carry the burden of supporting her father and caring for the land due to her brothers laziness and greed. She works to her hardest to compensate for Daffash as he blindly joins forces with the foreign invaders. : Early on Maha is forced to deal with the rape of her closest friend Nasra at the hands of Daffash. There is clear evidence that labels Daffash as a womanizer. "She asked for it. Whenever she set her greedy eyes on me…she tempted me"(12) is his excuse when Maha holds him at gun point. This is not the only crime he committed, as he is a traitor to the family and the village. He brings his friend from the city to try to persuade his father to give it all up and become wealthy from it. He desperately is really being used by the British soldiers he is blinded in to believing are his trusted friends. The husband of Maha fights against the soldiers in organized raids and he as well as the rest of his companions were slain, their bodies disfigured. And still these are the people that Daffash worships, the killers of his sister’s beloved. Greed is not associated with one particular ethnicity, race or nation but the practice of a capitalist revolves around the concept of personal gain. It has long been taught in Islam that, "One should want for his brother what he wants for himself"(Hadith, Bukhari) so these belief of individualism is detrimental to the established Islamic religion and culture. : Daffash has little respect for any of his family which quite striking where as the treatment of parents of a Muslim are crucial in the determining of the persons fate in the afterlife. After the death of Harb and Sheikh Nemir one can see the extent of Daffash’s insatiable exertions in obtaining the riches of the world and the acceptance of the British. In a meeting with some of his women friends she exclaims, " You are an open minded Arab. Not many of them around" Maha and Sheikh Nemir refer to him over and over as a ‘city lover’ where they have their ‘fake light" and range rovers. As Daffash alienates himself from his family more Maha’s resentment grows. "My chest tightened as Daffash held my suckling. ‘ Your uncle will teach you how to ride and shoot and drive’. I wish Daffash would leave me alone; leave my son alone…"(144). She fears for the future of her infant son Mubarak. Daffash will be the one to raise Mubarak should anything happen to Maha. She fears with good reason: Will he also come to love the city and their new foreign masters? Rape a woman? Beat his mother? Daffash and his selfish nature coupled with his fascination if the British and their way of life cause much grief and hardship for the family of Sheikh Nemir and the other people of Hamia. Living in as a tribe in the village of Hamia naturally comes with a strong feeling of community and Daffash’s involvement with the British and their imperialistic dealing endangered the people of Hamia from the beginning of their relationship. Selfish acts on behalf of his greed and indifference brought about various unfortunate and inauspicious occasions. : The great conflict during wartime is enough hardship with out dealing with the ling engrained influence of American and European culture on the people of he Middle East. In A balcony over the Fakihani (Liyana Badr) Su’ad a girl residing in Palestine during the time of the Lebanese civil war. Her family is known for taking in freedom fighters and others fighting for the liberation of Palestine. It is one day at her home that she meets Umar. He has come and went many times before but she had not expressed ad interest in him or any others. In Islam marriage is one of he most sacred bonds and is taken most seriously from finding a partner until the of each others days. Here Su’ad does not adhere to these standards. The last time she has seen "his friendly presence"(Fakihani 38) was while in her parents home she has an encounter with him as he washes his face : …I ran to fetch a towel for him from the bathroom. He wiped his face and opened his eyes; then he asked me if I would marry him. I felt confused and uncomfortable, not because he asked, but because of what my family might say. When I plucked enough courage to tell them my mother gave her consent, but my father was more reluctant (38-39) : This situation is not all that incoming except for that another people go the brides father to ask for her hand first before having asked her. Su’ads parents did not have much of an opinion on the matter and either gave their consent or she would do as she pleased. In Su’ad situation religion rarely play a part in her actions and decisions and seems to follow a traditionally western way of finding a husband. By doing this she is displeasing her family and that is right to both not to be changed It is also common for an American newly wed to chose a hone of their own neither matrilocal nor patrilocal where here Sauced almost immediately follows Umar to Beirut. "My God, the whole situation was becoming such a maze of difficulties that a trip to that moon seemed straightforward by comparison (41). Just as with the case of Maha one should not cut ties with family and kin so that one may maintain a close and nurturing relationship with family. : Fatima Mernissi, one of he most prominent figure in the feminist movement of Egypt ha compiled a book of about experiences inside the harem. As a young girl and throughout her teenage years she is constantly in the face of a social revolution. Fatima’s mother tells her early on in her childhood, "You have to learn to scream and protest just the way you learned to walk and talk" (Dreams of Trespass 9). Fatima’s mother is adamantly against women covering with the veil and being confined to the harem enforced by her husband. Fatima’s aunts, mother and maidservant are empowering lifelines and perfect image of what kind of woman she wants to become. Yasmina tries to explain to Fatima and the other women that there are certain ‘invisible rules’ set for men and women, : For example, she said, both men and women work from dawn until very late at night. But men made money and women did not. That was one of the invisible rules. And when a women worked hard, and was not thinking of money, she was stuck in a harem, even though she could not see the walls. "Maybe the rules are ruthless but they are not made by women". "The moment women get smart and start asking questions ,instead of dutifully cooking and washing al the time, they will find a way to change the rue and turn this planet upside down (Trespass 63) : Yasmina tries to explain in a subtle way that the men of their society are wrong in their sexist views. She is empowering to Fatima who is an extremely impractical and idealistic child with a great deal to learn. Fatima naivete however allows her to explore many opportunities and ask questions, which open new venues for her. The confinement to the harem while hindering her childhood fun of exploring the world beyond the gates does in fact let Fatima internalize her experience and reflect on how it directly affects the way she lives in the harem. Samir was always her closest friend even when they had come to an age when all children entering the stage of adolescence attempt to exercise their ‘pseudointellecuality’. : The down graded status if the woman in Egypt at the time was heavily die to the sexist ideas of men. Sexism however does have its own roots in any culture so to label it as solely introduced buy the West is a clear error. However the Western influences through other socioeconomic venues have indoctrinated the ideals of American culture into the minds of the Arabs previously discussed. ‘Be like the West’, accomplish what they have and strive to attain the material status they have is very much appealing to all people so that the ideas and concepts ,that America especially, live by are accepted. Fatima is now at a point where she is being told this is not the way she should be treated and she is the next generation that will have to work against the oppression where her aunts and her mother have left off. Fatima is very concerned about living forever behind these walls of the harem and Yasmina says to her, : You’ll miss out on happiness if you think too much about walls and rules, my dear child. The ultimate goal of a woman’s life is happiness. So don’t spend your time looking for walls to bang your head on. Do you understand what I mean?" : Fatima then truly beings to understand that she in fact does a purpose that extends beyond the ‘walls’. : The contradiction in this situation is that the freedom and equality that Fatima’s mother is fighting for is to not to return to the Arabia way of life and the Muslim values and laws. She wants to embrace the Western culture believing that it will enhance the progressive movement of the women. Fatima recalls, : My mother always insisted on dressing me in the latest Western fashions –short, fluffy lace dresses with colored ribbons and shiny black shoes…I would often beg her to let me wear my comfortable sarwal (harem pants), or any traditional outfit, which required led attention (85) : Her mother is steadfast in her beliefs that the former Islamic laws set upon the women are not in anyway the laws that will help women or liberate them in any sense. "Covering your head and hiding will not help. Hiding does not solve women’s problems. It just identifies her as an easy victim. Your grandmother and I have I have suffered enough of this head-covering business. We know it does not work. I want my daughters to stand with their heads erect…" (100) With that Fatima’s mother snatches the scarf from her daughter head, leaving the girl feeling incomplete and defenseless. The influence from America and the British who at one time had the been the major western influence have successfully instilled into the minds of many women that their culture restricts them. They believe that in order to free themselves from this newly realized oppression they must follow in the footsteps of the successful people . Materialistic values run the minds of weak people. The people who blindly follow these concepts are in reality hindering their goals. They equate worldly success and wealth with the ultimate success one could have. It leaves no room to consider that the true understanding of their previous way of living could possible the better of the two ways they could possibly choose. : With all things said one can understand that the values and ideals so highly prized do in fact have a great influence on the cultures and societies they involve themselves with. Understanding that power and wealth, both of which America greatly possess, gives people impression of the counties superiority, it is undoubtedly that this influence will affect them in such a way that America, to them, is the definition of fruition. Thus in there societies they too will impose the norms and social as well as economic values upon their people in order to attempt to attain the same great achievements. In every one of these books it becomes apparent in at least one way that the women and those around them, whether it is realized or not, have been greatly affect in the most adverse way.

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