Princess (Midway)

Princess- Jean Sasson

I don’t know where to start with this book. It’s so crazy that this is a nonfiction book and it is honestly such a culture shock. I know this sounds cliché and everything, but it really opened up my eyes to how much we take for granted and how many freedoms that I, as a women, have in America. From the first few pages, I was able to see the oppression against Princess Sultana, her mother and her sisters.

Some of the stories and memories that Sultana shares, through author Jean Sasson because Sultana is not allowed to write a book, are absolutely appalling. For example when she talks about her father and how bad she treats her mothers, or women not being able to pray in the mosque, but must do so inside of their house. They are not allowed to drive, and they must veil after certain points in their lives.

A typical veil worn by Saudi women, they vary in different thickness but it is hard to see out of regardless.

 

WARNING: SKIP THIS IF YOU ARE EASILY DISTURBED BY HORRIBLE WOMEN’S RIGHT ISSUES. These quotes are just some of the brutal thing that a women faces in a the Saudi Arabian royal family.

“Sara’s new husband was sadistic. He had subjected my sister to sickening sexual brutality until she felt her only escape was death”  (41).

“The authority of a Saudi male is unlimited; his wife and children survive only if he desires” (6).

“The history of our women is buried behind the black veil of secrecy. Neither our births nor our deaths are made official in any public record. Although births of male children are documented in family or tribal records, none are maintained anywhere for females. The common emotion expressed at birth of a female is either sorrow or shame” (7).

Though their life is really horrible, they do have immense wealths that were another shocking hin to get over. For example, Sultana’s family has three jets, waiting to take her anywhere at a moment’s notice. Granted, she must obtain a travel signature from the man in control of her (whether it be a husband or father). But the interesting thing about this is how they found a way to trick the system. A Saudi women will obtain necessary documents to travel and then cancel at the last minute and give her documents to someone else. Because of the veil and the secrecy, no travel official will question a women’s identity, given it is disrespectful to see any part of her body.

In the reviews when reading this book, I was cautioned against thinking all Saudi’s are like this. Obviously there are always exceptions but it makes me curious to see how Saudi’s that are not in the royal family live their lives. I would definitely read another nonfiction book written with a similar story or a person who has had better life than Princess Sultana. Something else that I would like to read is an outsider’s version of what happens in the daily life of a Saudi. My mom’s friend is married to a guy who’s from Saudi Arabia (raised in America, doesn’t believe in living the lifestyle that many Saudi’s do..) so it would be fun to talk to her and see her experiences on visiting her husband’s relatives in Saudi Arabia..