Wounding Words

by Evelyne Accad, Cynthia Hahn (Translator)

Poetical and powerful, Wounding Words is a vivid autobiographical exploration of women's issues in the political turmoil of contemporary Tunisia.

Genres: Feminism, Africa

183 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Evelyne Accad is an American/Lebanese Feminist Writer.
She was born and raised in Beirut, Lebanon.
Her publications include Blessures des Mots (1993); Sexuality and War (1990); Veil of Shame (1978), L’Excisee (novel), 1982,and she is a contributor to Radically Speaking and September 11, 2001: Feminist Perspectives. She is a songwriter and interpreter of both music and lyrics. Her book, The Wounded Breast, has been published in French and Arabic
Her Career life: Ande rson College, instructor in French, 1967-68; International College, Beirut, Lebanon, teacher and girls counselor, 1968-70; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, assistant professor, 1974-79, associate professor, 1979-88, professor of French comparative literature and member of core faculty at African Center, Women’s Studies Center, and Center for Asian Studies, 1988-; Northwestern University, visiting professor, 1991.

Reviews

[Carol Palmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've given this book 4 stars, not because I "liked" it or really enjoyed it, but because I think there are important messages in it. Accad writes about several young women in Tunisia, one of whom is the main character Hayate. Although set in Tunisia, Hayate is from Lebanon, but cannot return because it isn't safe. Hayate has studied and work in the USA and is on a grant to study in Tunisia.

One important message (to me), is the expression of the hatred the people in the Arab countries in the Middle East have for the USA. This book was published in 1996, so it was before Desert Storm/Shield, the war in Afghanistan, the extended war in Iraq, etc. The mistrust and hatred even extends to Muslims who live in or are educated in the USA. As an American citizen, I see this as very sad evidence that they are being misled by their political and religious leaders, similar to the way in which the Japanese people were misled by their leaders at the end of WWII. Of course, this is a problem that I can't fix and do not even attempt to completely understand. Suffice it to say that I have strong beliefs about what I see as the historical mistreatment of Palestinians that occurred when Western countries dispossessed them of their land. That doesn't mean that I am anti-Jewish or anti-Israeli. The establishment of a Jewish homeland just wasn't done very well, and I feel sympathy for all who have been involved in that debacle!

The strongest emphasis in the book is on Feminism in the Middle East. The struggle as depicted in this book is so different from the current experiences of females in the USA, that it is really hard to use the term "Feminist" as applied to both countries. Feminism in the USA is (now, not historically) a struggle for equality of opportunity in jobs, wages, political power, social standing, and other areas that are not essential to sustaining life. Feminism in the Middle East is a struggle for physical, emotional, and mental safety, for independence in thought and behavior, for equality in laws, and in many other areas that ARE essential to sustaining life. I believe that it can be hard for the two geographical areas to exchange ideas for growth because we are starting in such different places. I don't know -- this is just my opinion.

The third important message that this book brings to me is the importance of making connections between people. Family, friends, co-workers, co-worshippers, and co-believers in a cause provide an essential support system. Instead of putting each other down, we should be lifting each other up.

So, I didn't really enjoy this book, but I think I learned from it and that deserves 4 stars!

[Must Read Africa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wounding Words by Evelyne Accad chronicles the life of Hayate, a young Lebanese woman who spends about a year in Tunisia. Through Hayate's eyes Evelyne encapsulates the feminist debate and addresses the question of emancipation in the Arab world.
This book eases you into feminism and throughout its pages captures the culture, landscape, religion and sociopolitical discourse of the people in Tunisia.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very impressive, thought-provoking novel which weaves important questions about feminism, politics, sexuality, oppression and conflict into a realistic, if simple, plot about women striving to express themselves in modern Tunisia.

[Questy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny enough I had to read it twice to understand the whole plot but I loved every piece of it. Reading it the second time it felt like it was manifesting in my life as well