What will I learn about: In many Arab nations, family matters are governed by religious courts that frequently fail to protect women from atrocities like child marriage and domestic violence?

In many Arab nations, family matters are governed by religious courts that frequently fail to protect women from atrocities like child marriage and domestic violence.

What will I learn about: The fight for Arab women's rights is heavily hindered by Western liberals who use cultural relativism to excuse misogyny, and by internal pressures that shame women into silence?

The fight for Arab women's rights is heavily hindered by Western liberals who use cultural relativism to excuse misogyny, and by internal pressures that shame women into silence.

What will I learn about: Because of the severe threat of social stigma, physical punishment, or imprisonment, wearing a veil is rarely a true choice for the vast majority of women in the Middle East?

Because of the severe threat of social stigma, physical punishment, or imprisonment, wearing a veil is rarely a true choice for the vast majority of women in the Middle East.

What will I learn about: The intense cultural obsession with preserving a woman's virginity has led to the widespread practice of female genital mutilation, a non-religious custom designed to control female sexuality?

The intense cultural obsession with preserving a woman's virginity has led to the widespread practice of female genital mutilation, a non-religious custom designed to control female sexuality.

What will I learn about: Political uprisings in the Arab world will remain incomplete unless they are accompanied by a sexual and social revolution that actively dismantles the misogynistic status quo?

Political uprisings in the Arab world will remain incomplete unless they are accompanied by a sexual and social revolution that actively dismantles the misogynistic status quo.

Theme Song

Headscarves and Hymens

Why the Middle East Needs a Sexual Revolution

Mona Eltahawy

★ 3.7 / 5(157 ratings)

Start ListeningDownload QR code that opens AudiobookHub on the App Store

Try free on iPhoneScan to start in 5 seconds

Categories:

Society & Culture

If You're Curious About These Questions...

You should listen to this audiobook

💡How does the veil serve as both a tool of systemic oppression and a personal shield for some Arab women, and what severe consequences await those who choose not to wear it?
💡Why do Western liberals often remain silent on the systemic abuse of Arab women, and how does this well-intentioned 'cultural relativism' actually hinder the fight for gender equality in the Middle East?
💡Despite the constant threat of violence and deeply ingrained cultural practices like female genital mutilation, how are modern Arab feminists successfully using the internet to spark a much-needed sexual revolution?

Listen to Headscarves and Hymens — Free Audiobook

Loading player...

Key Takeaways from Headscarves and Hymens

✓In many Arab nations, family matters are governed by religious courts that frequently fail to protect women from atrocities like child marriage and domestic violence.
✓The fight for Arab women's rights is heavily hindered by Western liberals who use cultural relativism to excuse misogyny, and by internal pressures that shame women into silence.
✓Because of the severe threat of social stigma, physical punishment, or imprisonment, wearing a veil is rarely a true choice for the vast majority of women in the Middle East.
✓The intense cultural obsession with preserving a woman's virginity has led to the widespread practice of female genital mutilation, a non-religious custom designed to control female sexuality.
✓Political uprisings in the Arab world will remain incomplete unless they are accompanied by a sexual and social revolution that actively dismantles the misogynistic status quo.

Learning Tools

Reinforce what you learned from Headscarves and Hymens

Mind Map

Headscarves and Hymens

Systemic Misogyny & Oppression+

The Conspiracy of Silence+

Control of Women's Bodies+

Pervasive Violence and Harassment+

Resistance and Revolution+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 7

Why do many Western liberals remain largely silent regarding the misogynistic treatment of Arab women, according to the author?

A. They believe Arab feminists are already well-supported by local governments and do not need outside help.
B. They practice cultural relativism and fear that criticizing Arab culture is an intrusion into other people’s ways of life.
C. They lack awareness of the veil's existence and its broader cultural significance in the Middle East.
D. They actively support the ultra-conservative interpretations of Islamic law promoted by religious courts.

Question 2 of 7

What is a key distinction the author makes regarding the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) in Arab countries?

A. It is explicitly mandated by both the Quran and the Bible to ensure a woman's purity.
B. It is an outdated practice that has been completely eradicated in modern Egypt.
C. It is a cultural practice aimed at controlling a girl’s sex drive, not a religious one.
D. It is primarily a religious practice strictly limited to conservative Islamic sects.

Question 3 of 7

What is the primary difference between a hijab and a niqab?

A. The hijab covers the head and chest, while the niqab covers the head, chest, and face.
B. The hijab is worn only during prayer, while the niqab is worn at all times in public.
C. The hijab is a cultural garment, whereas the niqab is explicitly mandated by the United Nations.
D. The hijab is worn by unmarried women, while the niqab is reserved strictly for married women.

Question 4 of 7

How do authorities and police forces sometimes exacerbate the trauma of female victims in Egypt?

A. By deporting victims to neighboring countries under sharia law.
B. By forcing victims to pay a fine for being in public spaces without a male guardian.
C. By requiring victims to publicly apologize to their attackers on state television.
D. By conducting invasive 'virginity tests' which are essentially a form of rape.

Question 5 of 7

How have nascent Arab feminist movements recently achieved tangible progress against oppressive laws, such as the driving ban in Saudi Arabia?

A. By leveraging the internet and social media to launch campaigns and post protest videos.
B. By appealing directly to the United Nations to heavily sanction the Saudi royal family.
C. By running for political office and changing the religious courts from within.
D. By organizing armed rebellions during the Arab Spring to overthrow religious clerics.

Question 6 of 7

According to the book, what harsh reality did Arab women face during the liberating revolutionary movements of the Arab Spring?

A. They were completely excluded from participating in any street demonstrations by male protest leaders.
B. They faced widespread sexual violence at the hands of both authority figures and fellow protesters.
C. They were forced to wear the niqab as a symbol of revolutionary solidarity against Western influence.
D. They achieved full legal equality immediately following the overthrow of the oppressive regimes.

Question 7 of 7

Why do many domestic abuse cases in Arab countries result in little to no consequence for the male abusers?

A. Western governments frequently intervene to pardon male offenders in the Middle East.
B. Arab feminists generally advocate for private, out-of-court settlements rather than prison time.
C. State clerics mandate that all domestic disputes must be resolved by local police rather than judges.
D. Family matters are often handled by religious courts enforcing laws that heavily favor and protect men.

Headscarves and Hymens — Full Chapter Overview

1Recommendation
21 — Arab women live in hostile, misogynistic societies.
32 — On misogyny, Arab women and Western liberals often stay silent.
43 — Though headscarves are worn for many reasons, Arab women have little real choice.
54 — Virginity is treated as sacred, leading Arab girls to be protected through dangerous, often deadly genital cutting.
65 — Arab women face sexual harassment and physical abuse in public and at home.
76 — Arab feminists are using the internet to connect with other women and spark meaningful change.
87 — Even in liberating revolutionary movements, women have had to fight sexual violence.
98 — Final summary

Headscarves and Hymens Summary & Overview

Headscarves and Hymens (2015) chronicles the many levels of abuse suffered by women in the Arab world and what brave feminist activists are doing about these injustices. These blinks describe the various forms of oppression women face, from child marriage to virginity tests, and call for a sexual revolution in Islamic nations.

Who Should Listen to Headscarves and Hymens?

Feminists of all colors, genders and religions
Political or social scientists interested in gender inequality in Arab countries
Anyone concerned about human rights.

About the Author: Mona Eltahawy

Mona Eltahawy is an Egyptian-American journalist based in New York City. She has covered current events in Egypt and general political and social issues in the Middle East. Headscarves and Hymens is her first book and expands on her controversial 2012 article published in Foreign Affairs on Muslim men, entitled Why Do They Hate Us?