"Only my make-up, my hair and my expensive shoes were ‘upper class’. With my secondary school certificate and suppressed desires I belonged in the ‘middle-class'. But by birth, I was lower class." (El Sadaawi 10). Being of woman born, Firdaus was to subjected to a never-ending oppression. As a child, Firdaus was emotionally betrayed and abandoned by her mother. Though it is evident Firdaus’ mother had few alternatives when it came to protecting her daughter, as she was another woman bound by a man's authority. The lack of compassion Firdaus received compelled her to become independent and emotionally detached at a young age. Another crucial figure in Firdaus’ life was her uncle’s wife, who taught Firdaus that fear entails power. Firdaus could
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Notably, Sharifa also influenced Firdaus' rise to power as this woman introduced her to the power of prostitution. The gain of authority through prostitution empowered Firdaus to value her identity more than she had in the past. Truly, in Firdaus’ male dominated society, it is the female figures in her life that aided in her growth the most. Considerably the most influential figure in a woman's life is her mother, yet Firdaus was deprived of any maternal support. Readers are immediately inclined to dislike Firdaus’ mother after she aided in her daughter’s circumcision. The passage is brief yet evocative, "she (Firdaus’ mother) brought a woman who was carrying a small knife or maybe a small razor blade. They cut off a piece of flesh from between my thighs" (12) which portrays Fridaus’ subjection to violence and extreme pain. The jarring diction used conveys her mother’s lack of compassion. Consequently, Firdaus to became numb to emotions and pain; allowing her to be self-reliant. Nevertheless, it is evident that her mother was a submissive wife who had limited, if any, choices regarding the upbringing of her daughter. Firdaus’ father held authority in the household; when she described her father, she added that he knew “how to beat his
Notably, Sharifa also influenced Firdaus' rise to power as this woman introduced her to the power of prostitution. The gain of authority through prostitution empowered Firdaus to value her identity more than she had in the past. Truly, in Firdaus’ male dominated society, it is the female figures in her life that aided in her growth the most. Considerably the most influential figure in a woman's life is her mother, yet Firdaus was deprived of any maternal support. Readers are immediately inclined to dislike Firdaus’ mother after she aided in her daughter’s circumcision. The passage is brief yet evocative, "she (Firdaus’ mother) brought a woman who was carrying a small knife or maybe a small razor blade. They cut off a piece of flesh from between my thighs" (12) which portrays Fridaus’ subjection to violence and extreme pain. The jarring diction used conveys her mother’s lack of compassion. Consequently, Firdaus to became numb to emotions and pain; allowing her to be self-reliant. Nevertheless, it is evident that her mother was a submissive wife who had limited, if any, choices regarding the upbringing of her daughter. Firdaus’ father held authority in the household; when she described her father, she added that he knew “how to beat his