Princess:

A True Story Of Life Behind The Veil
In Saudi Arabia

Cover

Title Princess

Author Jean P. Sasson

ISBN 0-380-71918-5

Publisher Avon Books in the U.S., Bantam in the U.K.

Category Biography

Shira's Rating

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What It's About

This is a very disturbing book. It claims to be the autobiography of a member of the Saudi royal family, and it exposes the very real human rights abuses that shape the everyday lives of women in Saudi Arabia.

The book supposedly tells of the life of Sultana (not her real name), a granddaughter of the al-Saud warlord who brought most of the Arabian peninsula under his family's control at the dawn of the 20th century. Even though she is a member of the royal family, Sultana is bound by a strict society that defines women as nothing more than vessels for sexual relief and breeders of children for the men.

Princess depicts how even royal women are beaten, executed, and enslaved by their fathers, husbands, and brothers. It tells of a Filipino woman who came to Saudi Arabia to take a job working as a housekeeper in a private home, only to learn upon arrival that her duties also included providing daily sexual release to her employer and his two sons. It's the story of a young woman who was stoned to death for bringing dishonor upon her family--she had been raped by her brother's friends, who then lied and claimed she had enticed them.

There is some controversy with this book. It contains some allegations (such as the suggestion that female genital mutilation is widely practiced in Saudi Arabia) that just aren't true. The errors that I was able to identify make me wonder how much of the book I really can believe. Its deep negativity regarding Arabian society makes me suspicious--I would expect more of a balance between negative and positive if the book was truly trying to portray how life really is for women there.

Its Good Points

The book provides an insightful look into the inner workings of a country that is forbidden to nearly all foreigners. It exposes the shocking position that women hold in Saudi society. Although I question the credibility of some of the "facts" it reports, I am glad there is some exposure of the limitations that women must endure in this restrictive society, such as the requirement that they have written permission from a male family member before being allowed to travel outside the country.

Sultana's story is told in plain, easy-to-read English. You don't need to be a scholar to understand this book.

The book contained a large amount of historical information that helped me understand how Saudi Arabia emerged as a nation and developed the political structure that governs it today. It provides interesting insights into how this society has managed to endure and what has happened when people have tried to change it from within. It weaves all this information into the story of Sultana's life, so that it unfolds as part of her story. It teaches a great deal about the Persian Gulf region without coming across as a dry textbook.

From the beginning, the book emphasizes that the abuse of women is not the fault of Islam. Sultana clearly is a woman who still holds her faith in Islam, and she is careful throughout the book to clarify that the injustices women suffer in her country are not due to things The Prophet actually taught. She makes it very clear that the abuses are due to the policies of evil, corrupt men who have twisted the teachings of Islam to satisfy their twisted agendas.

I found it very helpful that this book included several reference resources: a map showing where the cities of Saudi Arabia are located, a brief guide to facts about the country such as area and population, a map identifying neighboring countries with brief facts about them, a genealogical chart showing the al Sa'ud extended family, an appendix detailing passages from the Koran that relate to women and family life so we can see what Islam really teaches, an appendix with information on the laws of Saudi Arabia, a glossary, a chronology of significant events, and an index. I referred to these materials several times while reading the back, and went back to them later.

On The Negative Side....

This book is depressing. It paints a picture of a society where the prospects for women are very bleak. Don't read it at a time when you are emotionally fragile.

The book is unrelentingly negative. It portrays a very one-sided perspective on what life is like for women in Saudi Arabia. Clearly, the narrator has very strong opinions. I did find myself wondering whether it is truly as bad as she says, or whether there is a positive side that she doesn't bother to acknowledge. Although I know that women do face legitimate human rights issues in Saudi Arabia, the lack of balance in this narrative makes me question whether the book is offering an accurate view.

I found at least one thing in the book that made me question its overall accuracy: it treated the subject of female circumcision as though it were common in Saudi society. Based on other research I have done, I've learned that the barbaric practice of female circumcision is actually not part of tradition in the Arabian peninsula. It is primarily confined to the African continent. Having seen this one error, the book does make me wonder: was the author so determined to make the patriarchal society of Saudi Arabia look as barbaric as possible that she made stuff up and threw things in that happen in other parts of the world but not Saudi Arabia just to make her book juicier?

In Conclusion

If you have the emotional strength to read a disturbing book, this one is probably worth a look. It provides a useful historical perspective on how modern-day Saudi Arabia's governmental structure came into being, offers insights into a society that very few of us will ever get to witness firsthand, and exposes human rights abuses.

I would urge any Western woman who expects to travel to London, Cairo, or any other city that is popular as a Saudi vacation spot to read this book before going. If she doesn't understand the attitudes that these men have toward women, she could put herself at great personal risk upon encountering them abroad. Although this book is certainly not representative of Cairo in general (Egypt is an entirely different country with an entirely different society), it is worth pointing out that when traveling to places where Saudi men gather, Western women would do well to behave and dress in ways that don't invite harassment.

In fairness to the Arab world in general, I need to emphasize that this book talks specifically about the society in Saudi Arabia. It would not be correct to assume that the attitudes and injustices of Saudi Arabia are representative of the Arab world as a whole!

Take the book with a grain of salt. It's true that Saudi law does allow women to be treated badly by the men in their family, and in all cultures (not just Saudi Arabia) you'll find that many people behave badly when they think they can get away with it. But its very one-sided view as well as the fact that I spotted at least one error (the allegation that female circumcision is widespread in Saudi Arabia) makes me suspicious of its accuracy. And remember that the book focuses specifically on the Persian Gulf region. The various countries of the Middle East have cultures, legal systems, and attitudes toward women that are very distinct from one another. Even the parts of this book that are accurate portrayals of Gulf family life don't necessarily apply to other countries in the Middle East. Don't let this book be your only source of information about Middle Eastern society!