Rebelling against the constraints of family and society, a young Egyptian woman decides to study medicine, becoming the only woman in a class of men. Her encounters with the other students - as well as with male and female corpses in the autopsy room - intensify her search for identity. She realises that men are not gods, as her mother had taught her, that science cannot explain everything, and that she cannot be satisfied by living a life purely of the mind. After a brief and unhappy marriage, she throws herself into her work, becoming a successful and wealthy doctor. But at the same time, she becomes more aware of the injustice and hypocrisy in society. She comes to find fulfilment, not in isolation, but through her relationship with others.
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Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Arabic --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Original Language: Arabic --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
About the Author
Nawal El Saadawi is an internationally-renowned Egyptian writer and feminist. Her book Woman and Sex, published in 1972, dealt openly with subjects considered taboo. Several of her novels have been translated into English. She is currently Distinguished Visiting Professor at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Heart of a Frustrated Woman,
By
This review is from: Memoirs of a Woman Doctor (Paperback)
In most societies in this world, it is a positive to be born a man. Being born a man will automatically give a person more chances in life than being a woman. 'Memoirs of a Woman Doctor' is the story of an Egyptian girl planning to become a doctor. She lives in a society where a woman's chances of climbing the socio-economic ladder are slim to none. Being the only woman in her medical school, she constantly tries to denegrate men and sometimes scolds humanity in general. She feels men are not the "Gods" that her mother thought they were. She tries to rationalize humanity, saying they are no better than animals. In all this time, she seems to have no attachment to humanity; all she seems to care about are her studies and her career. The ending of the book can be interperted in two ways. Some will feel it is a cop out (like I did) and others will feel she learned a very important lesson about this life. Nonetheless, it is a facinating read into the heart and mind of a smart, but frustrated woman living in a socitey dominated my males.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
a strike against sexism,
This review is from: Memoirs of a Woman Doctor (Paperback)
This is a heart rending book as one reads about the sexism that pervades Middle Eastern culture. el Saadawi is a courageous woman who dared to fight against the system. This book was no doubt a great controversy in her homeland of Egypt and quite possibly still is. The autobiographical tones are apparent which makes it an ever sadder tale. Freedom as she argues should exist for all--both men and women. The way her upbringing taught her to feel ashamed and inferior is horrible. But it is equally inspiring that she had the courage and fortitude to triumph over these overwhelming odds. Occasionally humanity does rise above the ugliness. This is one such triumph. It is poigant but also a worthwhile read.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A penetrating read,
This review is from: Memoirs of a Woman Doctor (Paperback)
A short novel on an Egyptian woman defying odds, going against family and culture in order to seek truth and equality in her life. Somewhat like Hermen Hesse's Siddhartha, but in a more realistic, modern day setting.
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