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  by macewoman

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Type: documentary

Status: finished

Author: Jean P. Sasson

Tags: history biography religion series muslim contemporary women_studies Saudi_Arabia 2007

Description: This book is a biography of Princess Sultana, but you can't understand her without knowingThis book is a biography of Princess Sultana, but you can't understand her without knowing some of Saudi Arabia's history. The introduction gives a brief history of how the Al Sa'ud family came to be the ruling monarchs of this country and how they continue to stay in power today.

The absolute control the men have over the women in this country is a product of what happens when something holy is stretched and perverted until it bears little resemblance to the original. As Sultana explains in the Introduction neither the Muslim faith nor the Koran is to blame for the slave-like position of women in this society. The Prophet Mohammed taught only kindness and fairness toward those of any sex. The men of today have little to no incentive to change; they truly are "kings" of their castles. Who would willingly give that up?

Sultana's life is one of ease and luxury, but boredom is its own form of torture. And one with a rebellious spirit, such as Sultana, finds that life can be even more difficult. She's rash and foolish, but she is also brave and fearless. This book spans her life from about seven years old (approximately 1963) until just after the ending of the first Gulf War I in 1991....

2007-01-25