★★★☆☆

Inspired by a similar encounter in Saadawi’s own life, this short novel details the life of Firdaus, a woman facing execution in Egypt who has finally decided to tell her life story. In this account, Firdaus describes the injustices and mistreatment she has continually faced due to her gender. Saadawi unflinchingly exposes the corruption of Egypt’s patriarchal society and how it functions to the deliberate disadvantage of women.

Written in 1975, the parallels in the experiences of a woman then and now are chillingly close. Firdaus describes the objectification of girls from a young age by older men, the flagrant way in which men publicly indulge their own bodies whilst shaming women for embodying their own, the way an unwanted look can feel as violating as a touch. At the same time, there are issues that I have been privileged enough never to had to have experienced, but which I know remain prevalent in the world today: sexual exploitation, rape, female genital mutilation, and the way women and girls have to fight for their education in a manner that men don’t.

Saadawi astutely captures the sense of women belonging to society, rather than themselves, through Firdaus’ recurring disassociation and depersonalisation. Similarly, the motif of eyes throughout the novel hammers home the constant scrutiny and judgement women face. On the other hand, I found some of Saadawi’s recurring metaphors abstract and vague, too long and winding to really make any particular point. The fast pace of the novel also feels a bit disjointed, with the parallels that Saadawi draws coming through too starkly as devices, rather than being embedded within the narrative and feeling authentic to Firdaus’ life.

Saadawi’s portrait of Egyptian society is damning, and remains relevant to women worldwide today. The novel ends on a nihilistic note which today strikes harshly but which at the time was probably a reality and sentiment shared by innumerable women. As much as I found it difficult to fully get into this read, there’s no denying the significance and bravery of Saadawi’s unforgiving judgement of her country’s treatment of women. Despite being written almost 50 years ago, it’s also vital to remember that throughout the world, today, women experience the same abuse, poverty and violence detailed here.