"A Woman Is No Man"

 When I first read the title of  Etaf Rum’s debut novel “A Woman Is No Man” I was under the impression that the novel would have themes such as feminism and women empowerment. After reading  Etaf Rum’s book title “A Women Is No Man,” I think the title has a double meaning. The first one being that a woman is literally no man and the second on being about women in the Arab community. Throughout the novel women have no voice and are constantly oppressed by their family, they were being married off young, denied access to education and were not allowed to have a social life. What Etaf Rum is trying to tell through her title of the novel about the situation of Arab women in society is that their live are dominated by men, throughout the book the women were condition to devote their lives to men. They were taught to cook, clean, and have babies (preferably boys) even though they have no control over what child they will have. The women are allowed to even out on their own, they must cater to their husbands and raise their children. Through out the book women of the Arab community are forced to cater to their husbands and bear children, never being able to pursue their passions, dreams, life goals and ambitions such as education and writing. I think Etaf Rum book was very insightful and eye-opening to many of its readers who are not familiar with the Arab community, and its struggles.