Item Detail
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Cooper, Elizabeth
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Egyptian Women of the Past
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1915
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1915
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19
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38
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The Harem and the Purdah, written some sixty years ago, provides insight into Western views of the Middle East at the turn of the century. In this first chapter, Cooper attempts to dispel pre-conceived Western opinions of Egyptian women by providing historical and contemporary data on the subject. Beginning with ancient Egypt, she discuses such female rulers as Hatshepsee, Hypatia, Cleopatra, as well as female goddesses in ancient religion. A brief view of pre-Islamic conditions leads to a description of Mohammed's reforms, i.e., limitation on the number of wives a man is permitted, and female rights to inheritance. The seclusion of women in harems is traced back to the war-like habits of the people. She notes the consequences of seclusion have been the restricted intellectual development of women; yet, she notes instances exist where, in time of need, Moslem women have exhibited rare co
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editor:
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The Harem and the Purdah
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New York: The Century Company