Women in the City of the Dead - Essay Example

Women in the City of the Dead In some societies to be born as a woman is a tragedy; to be a working woman is a double tragedy. Generally, in such societies the woman works under compulsive circumstances. “Women in the City of Dead,” is a suggestive title. It implies that every woman has a city within her heart, a city that she nurtures from the cradle to the grave and from the womb to the tomb. The stories in this book explain how the women in Cairo (in that era) have to cope with their personal problems, domestic issues and the sociological challenges.

It is a tough call viewed from any angle. It has been succinctly described by Helen Watson (1992, p.7) “Conflict and change tend to have a catastrophic effect on any highly structured system. Women’s increasing presence in the male world of work and money provides great potential for disruption of the complementary nature of male and female roles. This is a cause for considerable concern to both men and women.” The vast cemetery close to the centre of Cairo is the reality as well as the symbol of the past and present life there.

The departed souls resting in peace in a number of graves must be watching with concern the developments taking place in the city due to the impact of industrialization, materialistic civilization, and the ambitions of the combustible generation, thousands who migrate to the cities in search of employment to better their prospects and adopt new lifestyles. The author describes about the worst part of this unchecked urbanization thus: “Families have moved into tomb buildings and ceremonial ante-rooms, and additional dwellings and extensions have been tackled on as required.”(p.4) Shall I say that I enjoyed the stories?

That is true only about the literary style of the author, but the contents are poignant and move any heart. Why God has stored such a suffering for women? The story of Amira in “The Childless Woman,” is one such example. Being compelled to marry at the young age of sixteen, and divorced after two years as she was unable to conceive children as per the expectations of her husband and other elderly of the family, especially the mother-in-law—her only female child was born dead. The author describes her feelings poignantly, “It seemed as if she hadn’t been supposed to have a part in this world and was in Paradise already.

Even now I often dream of my baby’s face.”(p.29) The author admits that “The initial focus of my research was women’s contribution to the family budget and their experience of waged work.”(p.5)The plight of the women who actually do not wish to work outside their homes, but have to work under compelling circumstances is pathetic. They are hard-pressed, as they have to take care of domestic chores, look after their children and attend to the comforts of the elderly and husband at home.

They often face social ridicule. Have you ever heard a discussion or symposium on the topic, “Men-- their role in the society?” The answer is an emphatic No! The discussion is always about women. The talk of giving equal rights to women has been going on since time immemorial, but at the grassroots level nothing tangible has been achieved. I say that you cannot give equal rights to women—because she is more equal! It is the mother who gives exclusive protection for the initial nine months to the divine creative force, male or female!

But unfortunately a female child is victimized at every stage of her life. Women need to be the legal and spiritual equals of men.Conclusion: The book is about the living conditions of the poor in the slums; it is about the pathetic plight of the women. By providing the sociological conditions as the backgrounder information, the author has weaved several stories, on the basis of real-life experiences of women and how they challenge life and live through the trials and tribulations, duty and beauty!

Works CitedWatson, Helen: Women in the City of the Dead; Africa World Press, April 1992.