In The Land Of Invisible Women A Female Doctors Journey In The Saudi Kingdom
Physical
AvailableWhat will you learn from this book
-
Cultural Immersion: Ahmed provides a detailed exploration of Saudi Arabian culture, customs, and traditions, offering readers a nuanced understanding of life in the kingdom.
-
Gender Segregation: The book sheds light on the strict gender segregation in Saudi society, particularly in public spaces, workplaces, and educational institutions.
-
Women's Rights: Ahmed reflects on the challenges faced by Saudi women, including restrictions on their freedom of movement, limited access to education and employment opportunities, and the requirement to be accompanied by male guardians.
-
Healthcare System: As a physician, Ahmed offers insights into the Saudi healthcare system, including the quality of medical care, patient-doctor interactions, and cultural attitudes towards illness and treatment.
-
Religious Practices: The book explores the role of Islam in Saudi society, from daily prayers and religious observances to the influence of conservative interpretations of Islamic law on social norms and behavior.
-
Identity and Belonging: Ahmed grapples with questions of identity and belonging as a British Muslim woman of Pakistani descent navigating life in Saudi Arabia, where her cultural background and professional identity intersect with local customs and expectations.
-
Personal Growth: Through her experiences, Ahmed undergoes personal growth and self-discovery, confronting her own biases and preconceptions while developing a deeper appreciation for Saudi culture and its complexities.
-
Professional Challenges: As a female physician, Ahmed faces professional challenges, including gender-based discrimination, skepticism from male colleagues, and navigating cultural sensitivities in patient care.
-
Cross-Cultural Connections: Despite the cultural barriers, Ahmed forms meaningful connections with Saudi women and men, forging friendships and professional relationships that transcend cultural differences.
-
Reflections on Faith and Tolerance: The book concludes with Ahmed's reflections on faith, tolerance, and the universal values that bind humanity together, emphasizing the importance of empathy, understanding, and mutual respect in bridging cultural divides.
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10 | 1402210876 |
| ISBN-13 | 9781402210877 |
| No of pages | 467 |
| Font Size | Medium |
| Book Publisher | Source books |
| Published Date | 01 Sep 2008 |
About Author
Related Books
A strikingly honest look into Islamic culture?—in particular women and Islam?—and what it takes for one woman to recreate herself in the land of invisible women.
Unexpectedly denied a visa to remain in the United States, Qanta Ahmed, a young British Muslim doctor, becomes an outcast in motion. On a whim, she accepts an exciting position in Saudi Arabia. This is not just a new job; this is a chance at adventure in an exotic land she thinks she understands, a place she hopes she will belong.
What she discovers is vastly different. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a world apart, a land of unparalleled contrast. She finds rejection and scorn in the places she believed would most embrace her, but also humor, honesty, loyalty and love.
And for Qanta, more than anything, it is a land of opportunity.
Very few Islamic books for women give a firsthand account of what it's like to live in a place where Muslim women continue to be oppressed and treated as inferior to men. But if you want to learn more about the Islamic culture in an unflinchingly real way, this book is for you.
"In this stunningly written book, a Western trained Muslim doctor brings alive what it means for a woman to live in the Saudi Kingdom. I've rarely experienced so vividly the shunning and shaming, racism and anti—Semitism, but the surprise is how Dr. Ahmed also finds tenderness at the tattered edges of extremism, and a life—changing pilgrimage back to her Muslim faith." — Gail Sheehy