As a Wife Societys Treatments toward Women as Portrayed by the Character of Firdaus in the Novel

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4.2.2 As a Wife

Wives in Egypt are asked to do the domestic work as their obligation. According to Haj-Yahia, the house keeping is the most important job to do for most wives in a patriarchal society 4. In the novel, once Firdaus gets married she does the housekeeping as her responsibilities of being a wife. She does all domestic works including cooking, washing, and house cleaning. Although she is very exhausted, she does the housekeeping without complaining El-Saadawi 43. In a patriarchal society, domestic violence happens mostly because of the superiority of men in a family. As stated by Qosim Amin when people talk about Middle-Eastern countries including Egypt, what they have in their mind is that a woman is a slave and that a man is the ruler of the slave. Men believe that they are the masters and wives are their slaves. Therefore, men can do anything to their wives including domestic violence. Women cannot do anything since their weak position in a family and their obedience to their husband bayt al- ta’ah. Women are asked to obey all of her husbands command. Domestic violence also happens to Firdaus. In her marriage, Firdaus often experiences abuses done by her husband. If Firdaus makes a mistake, her husband will be very angry and beat her. When Firdaus husband finds some leftover of foods, he becomes very angry that he beats Firdaus. Since that time, Firdaus husband often beats Firdaus with or without a reason El-Saadawi 44. On the next occasion, Firdaus husband beats her until her face and body become swollen and bruised El-Saadawi 44. The worst is when her husband beats her with his heavy stick until the blood runs from her nose and ears El-Saadawi 45. Article 241 of the Egyptian Penal Code declares that a person who does a PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 47 domestic violence will be imprisoned for two years or pay a fine of 20 to 300 Egyptian pounds. However, most husbands who do domestic violence to their wives will only pay the fine without being imprisoned Sharifa Zuhur 63. Therefore, domestic violence always happens again and again throughout a womans life. Beating a wife is one example of domestic violence. In Egypt, the beating of a wife is assumed as a common thing to do by a husband. As the 1995 Egyptian Demographic and Health Survey found that majority of women believed that beating a wife deserved to be forgiven. The allowance of husband to beat his wife is also found in the novel. This can be proven through the conversation of Firdaus and Firdaus uncle and aunt. But my uncle told me that all husbands beat their wives, and my uncles wife added that her husband often beat her... it was precisely men well versed in their religion who beat their wives. The precepts of religion permitted such punishment. A virtuous woman was not supposed to complain about her husband. Her duty was perfect obedience El-Saadawi 44. The statement declares that beating a wife is an usual thing to do for a husband. Moreover, a husband who beats his wife is assumed as a good husband. As a wife, it is her obligation to obey her husband so that she cannot refuse her husband from beating her.

4.2.3 As a Female Employee