I have just finished Nawal El Saadawi’s epic, short book. This was inspired by an encounter in 1974 with a female prisoner, Firdaus, condemned to death for murder in Egypt. She had indeed murdered her pimp. This is written as a novel, a monologue of a short life. But the woman existed and the encounter is true. The brutalisation of this woman by all the men in her life who she should have been able to trust, shocked her countrymen, because it was instantly recognisable. When years later it was published abroad, it shocked the wider world. The life Firdaus had led was the normal experience of an ordinary women in Egypt and in the wider Arab world. I am not sure how much it has changed since then.
On the other hand this is also a true story:
Way back in 1965 two girls, aged 17 and 20, went hitchhiking round Europe. They were very careful because they had promised their parents not to travel this way, but they ran out of money. In Basel they managed to get a job working in a what would now be called a burger bar. The 17 year old was just out of boarding school, absurdly trusting and naive to a fault. She took a liking to the handsome young Egyptian cook, and was happy to indulge in the odd kiss and cuddle in their time off.
After a week or so, the girls had to leave their youth hostel – these were meant for travellers and not for long-term stays. Struggling to find somewhere to stay, they accepted a temporary home in the cook’s apartment, where a single sofa was the only available spare bed. The 17-year-old found herself cuddling on the bed with cook, who after a little while sat up. He explained very gently that she should not have accepted his offer to stay and must never do such a thing again. Her presence in his bedroom, he continued, would be regarded by most men as consent to sex. He was probably no more than 20 years old.
This kind and honourable young Egyptian left me with a respect, not only for himself but also for his countrymen, that I have never forgotten.
Green Writing Room 
In a way they are both true stories.
Exactly, there is a contradiction to almost every ‘truth’.
There are always more ways than one to skin a cat. That is the trouble with truths, they vacillate which is a nuisance if you want to get a grip on certain things. Egypt used to be a matriarchal society where women ruled. Land passed down to daughters and they could chose who to have sex with. I am amazed though that countries which seem dominated by men, such as Iran, Egypt Thailand etc. do have many female representations in their governments. During riots or upheavals I see many women on the streets.
We get a very one-sided view only reading our own press.
Stereotypes are such slippery things; just when you get a firm grip on one along comes something to shatter it. How very lucky you were, Hilary, thank heavens.
I was indeed. i think the world is full of decent people, but the others make the headlines.
Was it because you were a visitor, Hilary ? – not a mere local ?
How appalling it is to think of those women having to live like that. But then, how appalling is any country where women are considered objects …
We were both visitors – this was Basel. I think may men, of many nationalities, would have counted me as fair game. I have been lucky to meet plenty of the other sort, but yes, women have a long way to go to true emancipation.
Such a vivid contrast, Hilary. I’m glad your story ended happily and safely but equally sad that the other story was so awful. The world is a strange place.
Yes, I should have written at greater length about El Saadawi’s story, because the main character only lost fear when she embraced the male perspective and became as brutal as them. Yet I persist in believing that the world is full of mainly decent women AND men.
Two powerful stories Hilary. So glad yours had the ending it did. Read this morning that there are an estimated 26 million slaves in the world today. Many bad endings. And so unexcusable in this day and age. –Curt
You are right, it is inexcusable, because it is mostly our laziness (not yours, you have done so much) which allows this slavery to go on. We don’t approve, we’d rather it didn’t happen, but we don’t act or persuade those in power to act on our behalf.
I always come back to the improbable, Hilary: some type of strong international government. I really don’t know how such things are controlled otherwise. –Curt