56 she has inherited nothing, and has no income of her own. We will never find
a better husband for her than Syeikh Mahmoud.” El-Saadawi 37 In fact, Firdaus does not love her husband at all. She even resembles her husband
as the most disgusting creature which smells like a dead dog, with a terrible abscess on his chin El-Saadawi 43. She hates to be touched by her husband. She even
washes her face and lips, arms and thighs, and every part of her body several times with soap and water carefully from her husbands fingertips when he sleeps El-
Saadawi 43-44. This proves Firdaus disability to state her opinion. Although Firdaus hates her husband, she hides her real feeling of him since she has to obey
her uncle and aunts decision upon her. Not only unable to make a decision, but Firdaus also cannot choose. Firdaus disability to make a choice on her entire life is
shown on Firdaus statement. She says: “No one has asked me before whether I preferred oranges or tangerines. My father never brought us fruit. My uncle and my
husband used to buy it without asking me what I preferred.” El-Saadawi 47 This proves that in Firdaus life, she is never asked to choose. The men around her are
the people who choose for her. No matter she likes it or not, she has to agree with their choice upon her.
These explanations draw mens controlling Firdaus’ life. Her disability to decide and choose and her position as a second importance rather than men are
caused by male domination toward women in Firdaus society as a patriarchal society. Mens controlling Firdaus life is stated by Firdaus. According to Firdaus,
men are controlled womens life of both on earth and on heaven El-Saadawi 91.
4.3.1.2 The Society’s Bad Treatments toward Women
Most societies believe that women have lower position rather than men.
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57 They are created to bow under mens power and superiority. Montagu asserts the
women are indoctrinated to believe that women are inferior and men are superior. Furthermore, it is believed that the difference is natural. Men are born to be
breadwinners and women are born to stay at home with their obligation to raise children, enslave themselves for her husband, and do housekeeping 23. Montagus
statement of the different roles between men and women indicates that the different treatments of men against women really exist in a society.
This condition really happens in Firdaus society. As it is discussed in the previous discussion, throughout her life Firdaus has been treated badly by men. As
a daughter, Firdaus is raised with the belief that a son is more important than a daughter El-Saadawi 18. Firdaus also knows that as a woman she does not
deserve to enter university as what men do El-Saadawi 16. As a wife, Firdaus enslaves herself for her husband and do housekeeping. While Firdaus is asked to
obey and serve her husband well, her husband is allowed to beat her anytime. According to Firdaus, being a wife is similar to being a prostitute. Moreover, a
wifes life is even worse than a prostitute. A wife sells her body to her husband on the lowest price. Therefore, Firdaus says that being a wife is as the same as being a
slave: “That men force women to sell their bodies at a price, and that the lowest paid body is that of a wife. All women are prostitutes of one kind or another.
Because I was intelligent I preferred to be a free prostitute rather than an enslaved wife.” El-Saadawi 91
As a female employee, Firdaus finds that she has been treated differently from the higher level of employee. Firdaus even says that being a prostitute is
better than being a female employee. A female employee should prostitute herself
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58 to be treated fairly. The unfair treatments toward women can be seen from Firdaus
statement below: I felt sorry for the other girls who were guileless enough to offer their
bodies and their physical efforts every night in return for a meal, or good yearly report, or just to ensure that they would not be treated unfairly, or
discriminated against, or transferred El-Saadawi 76.
Firdaus says that female employees are guileless. They are guileless because they use their bodies and physical efforts only for a meal and good yearly report. They
are also treated unfairly, discriminated against men and transferred unless they agree to offer their body.
4.3.1.3 Firdaus Apathy of Love
