April 2, 2021 at 9:37 am
When Sahar Khalifeh was young, her family didn't support her dream of becoming a writer. They regarded art as a sin that would ultimately destroy the family's reputation.
"The word 'art' means to uneducated people, and to most semi-educated people in the Arab world, singing, acting and belly dancing," Sahar explains. "To become a singer or actress means to be exposed to people's eyes in a shameful manner."
"A woman's natural place is at home," she continues. "A decent woman is supposed to be hidden, not exposed. A decent woman should follow the rules. Mainly, a woman is supposed to get married, breed children, cook and clean and hide from real contact with real life."