Princess Sultana's Daughters

It can be the USA or the highest society in Mexico City or another part of the world like Asia or the Middle East and women are found as part of a yet unacknowledged worldwide women's sisterhood all fighting for the same rights and full recognition given to men for half the work women do. Princess Sultana is no exception but even in her privileged status she speaks out for the injustice done by men to women financially and socially like the story she relates of the humble grandmother she knew and aided in the hope to stop the forced circumcision the woman's granddaughter was going to suffer. An abominable tradition not always followed but They failed.East or West women share the same inequality and discrimination camouflaged in different forms and shapes in family tradition. culture, religion or myths created by men and followed by women who are too burdened by work and responsibilities to care to analyze.In the US there's many forms of injustice despite "advances". Theres many Anita Hills serving a Clarence Thomas for survival of her job and professional position. Seldom a woman will shackle her chains loud enough to be heard. The main reason is the fear of rebellion who will make men put a women in check by making her to loose her privileges at home or in the office, or maybe both. A woman's highest handicap is her ignorance and perceived inability to fight for her rights. the acceptance of an unrecognized gender injustice imposed on her in subtle and not so subtle ways.women keep a forced silence for fear of loosing status and privilege and being set apart as "difficult" just as Anita Hill was. Too much is lost. We have one life. Princess Sultana is far away from us in Saudi Arabia and she makes us feel free and safe to evaluate and criticize a different culture and the status of Saudi women as mothers, wives and at times as secret lovers. Her obstacles are immense in a society ruled by religion and government enforced by a few. So strong is the double weapon of clergy and royalty that the holiest book: theKoran with all its wisdom and directives is twisted and misquotedTo satisfy the will and lust of powerful men who rule over so many women.the liberation seed implanted by the Princess starts to germinate within us and we start to assess our own system and situation.We gain empowerment sharing the dreams and sorrows of a strong woman living a privileged status as Princess Sultana enjoying royal life with all its pains and a good share of almost insurmountable temptations to blind us all to the injustice done to Saudi women by men but Sultana is a woman who is not blinded by luxury and money to silence her conscience and sense of justice. Other women in her family are blinded by diamonds, travel and precious rubies. Unafraid of no one Sultana speaks for the truth and shackles submissiveness in traditional roles. Her husband and males around her learn to fear her and respect her. She fights and looses battles but speaks The truth loud and clear for other women to hear and fight for in their own societies around the world, rich or poor, single or married, beautiful or plain. For themselves and for their daughters and in doing so they begin to transform men of the next generation. Her own son helps a bride escape the clutches of her disapproving family and reunites her away from Saudi Arabia to the husbandShe would have lost forever.Princess Sultana becomes a friend to every woman alive. Her story is easy and entertaining to read as a woman who sought balance and justice in an oppressive society. she gives us hope and the strength and power to fight for our own unclaimed freedoms and be valued as workers, wives and mothers. By becoming part of Sultanas inner circle we begin to question ourselves, our roles And expectations in the particular society in which we live in and gradually grow to recognize the subtle and insidious ways women are mentally manipulated by men supported by the cultural and economic myths that sustain the "technical" and "modern and progressive" advancedsociety in which men created and support.Yes, Saudi Arabia does not allow women to drive yet and voting, I believe, is a recent privilege but How many women Presidents have we had in the US? We had Indira Gandhi in India, Golda Mayer in Israel and at least half a dozen supreme heads of state in Latin Ametica in the past and present.But how many women Presidents in the US? Why not so far?Princess Sultans books far from entertaining are a loving inviting hand not only into her world but a world inside yourself that will empower you to reclaim a world that is yours yet unclaimed. Highly readable and entertaining. Five stars not enough. It opened my eyes and gave me a better sense of the gender battle ground in every society.

Just be glad, readers, that you were not born female in Saudi Arabia. Another big dose here of gruesome stories about the lot of women and girls in that country. Well written, graphic and heartbreaking!

We live in a world where the terms Muslim and Islam are thrown around in the press and almost always with little understanding of the culture and traditions implied in and by the terms. I, myself, am widely read, extremely open and tolerant of others, but know less than I should about the religion of Islam or the culture being lived around the world by Muslim people. I am also increasingly interested in women's issues as a grandmother of 5 granddaughters witnessing the Talibanization of uber right Conservative Christian elements in our society.This book is written by an American author, but in the words of a Saudi Princess, who is carefully anonymized, but who is herself of the newer generations who seek to throw off some of the oppressive elements of their Muslim culture which is very controlling and punishing of women.There are 3 books in this series, and all are absolutely fascinating looks into a world that I, as an American, could not even imagine. First of all Saudi royalty is a place I will never know. But the predominance of the oppression of women, even among the wealthy who are in some ways above some of the rigidity of it all, is incredible. I had no idea the culture of genital mutilation of females was such a prevalent part of the culture. But that is not the focus of the book - still it is part of the culture and is emotionally upsetting to consider. It puts a new complexion on the efforts in our country to try to use religion to force women into a second-class position controlled by men, whose goal is not loving enhancement of the experience of life for their women, but domination and management of women to fulfill their own male aims/wants and desires. Equality is a hard thing, but it is infinitely desirable compared to dominance and oppression.I have read the first and second books, this book is #2, the first is Sultana, the second this book and the third, Princess Sultana's Circle. I am just beginning book 3 and the effect of reading to this point has been very broadening, educational, concerning, and expanding of my consciousness. The writing style is excellent. The subject matter is what it is and as I say, interesting and consciousness raising.I highly recommend this series of three books.

Truly eye opening and shocking to read the horrors Saudi women have endured. Within this book is one of the most horrific atrocities a man has inflicted on a woman and has and will always stick with me. Jean Sasson does an amazing job highlighting the perils of women in Saudi Arabia.

Great highly recommended

Narrated in a very lively manner. It’s a good read

Jean Season's writing style easily draws the reader into Princess Sultana's world as a Saudi Arabian princess living a life of wealth and privilege, while lacking for the one thing her country won't allow - freedom. This book delves more into the differences between Sultana's generation and that of her children's tan "Princess" did. I was happy to get an update and learn that despite past differences, Sultana truly has a rare marriage based on love in the Muslim world. An important and heart-felt look at what it is to be a woman in an archaic, male dominated society.

Apres avoir lue le premier tome "princess" et le deuxieme "princes of arabia" et bien que déjà au fait que ce type d'horreurs amenées par la main mise d'hommes sadiques armes de pretextes religieux detournes servant a martyriser femmes et enfants "femelles" ont existes dans presques toures les cultures a des periodes moyennageuses... Et bien savoir que nos jours c'est encore d'actualite au 20eme siecle avec autant de cruaute a l'echelle de nations entières et sous la protection absolue de toute justice d'etat ou religieuse est bouleversant. Même les meilleures âmes mâles sont corompues apres avoir grandi entoure de tant d'injustices gratuites et de perversions. Je plein les femmes qui subisent ça et qui ne trouvent de liberation que dans la mort, mais aussi les hommes qui sont conditionnes a devenir des monstres dans ce type de sociétés. On comprend mieux comment on arrive au terorisme d'aujoud'hui d'ont Ben Laden est un pur produit saoudien richissime. Je pense a ses êtres vivants emmurées dans le noir a vie et ce n'est pas une métaphore.. A ces femmes et enfants torturées sexuellement, obligées de retourner avec leur père, frère, oncle ou maris sans aucun recour judiciaire n'y meme une autorisation ecrite ou passeport et ce quel que soit le pire sevise qu'elles aient subi. A ces femmes obligées au divorce selon l'envie de leur maris qui ne reveront jamais leurs enfants même si elles n'ont aucun choix et acceptent la multi-bigamie de leurs hommes. Ces fillettes mariees a des vieillard vicieux. A ces domestiques du tier monde qui sont exploitees sous toute leurs formes par des familles richissimes. Un cercueil a ciel ouvert pour beaucoup de pauvres gens poutant tous épris religion... Pourtant ca devrait etre tout le contraire.... Cette femme est une heroine pour avoir risque sa vie en faisant écrire sa vie et celle de toutes les perssonnes de son entourage par Jean.J.Sasson, et j'avoue que ces toutes petites victoires font un bien fou.

very interesting and true as we have lived in Saudi Arabia for a few years