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Voices: The Pioneering Spirit of Women in Jordan
"If you are going to pioneer, go ahead and don't look back," said her husband; thus with her husband's unfailing support, Haifa set out to do just that, working for women's empowerment in both the political and social fields, within a conservative society that hated change. With perseverance, she began working with the most vulnerable members of society, the elderly, and for the next 50 years her voluntary work contributed to the betterment of women's healthcare services throughout Jordan. This book, 'Voices', documents the lives of committed and determined Jordanian women who broke through that glass ceiling even before the term became popular in the West; it busts open the myths and stereotypes held by others about women in Arabia that they have had to contend with for many decades, but it never dimmed their spirits, nor their ambitions, often supported by the men in their lives. These pioneering women had many stories to tell; an immense wealth of oral history, integral to their cultural identity that was being lost on the winds of time and change. Thus this book was written - to write women back into history.
324 pages, Paperback
Published March 12, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review
May 19, 2025
Remarkable in every sense of the word
This book changed me to the better
As a Jordanian woman, I always struggled in understanding where we lied when it came to women rights and women’s role in society and this book made me realize the incredible and challenging path that many women have gone through before I was even born that made us reach where we are today.
This book also further emphasizes the idea that Jordan just like all of the countries of the Levant is a collection of people from all of the region, religions, tribes, beliefs, it is so wonderful reading about women with origins from Palestine, Syria, Lebanon thrive in Jordan, it was also so wonderful and hopeful reading about their struggles and how they never gave up, even the ones that were hopeless till the very end, Jacky honored them and made sure they will be remembered as the Heroes they are of our society.
The book spoke about women from literally all professions, from politics, education, art, volunteering to as far as sports, not only that but in her final thoughts she also honored even more Jordanian women who were the “first” in many sectors and professions.
I can talk about this book forever, how it made me love Jordan even more, how it made me so hopeful for mine and other Jordanian women’s future, how it made me love my levantine roots even more, understand and relate with the Palestinian struggle even more and so much more.
The book was also beautifully written, these women were treated with such humanity and respect in Jacky’s writing
Truly one of the best books I have read
Well done Jacky, and thank you so much for this wonderful tribute to our amazing women ❤️
This book changed me to the better
As a Jordanian woman, I always struggled in understanding where we lied when it came to women rights and women’s role in society and this book made me realize the incredible and challenging path that many women have gone through before I was even born that made us reach where we are today.
This book also further emphasizes the idea that Jordan just like all of the countries of the Levant is a collection of people from all of the region, religions, tribes, beliefs, it is so wonderful reading about women with origins from Palestine, Syria, Lebanon thrive in Jordan, it was also so wonderful and hopeful reading about their struggles and how they never gave up, even the ones that were hopeless till the very end, Jacky honored them and made sure they will be remembered as the Heroes they are of our society.
The book spoke about women from literally all professions, from politics, education, art, volunteering to as far as sports, not only that but in her final thoughts she also honored even more Jordanian women who were the “first” in many sectors and professions.
I can talk about this book forever, how it made me love Jordan even more, how it made me so hopeful for mine and other Jordanian women’s future, how it made me love my levantine roots even more, understand and relate with the Palestinian struggle even more and so much more.
The book was also beautifully written, these women were treated with such humanity and respect in Jacky’s writing
Truly one of the best books I have read
Well done Jacky, and thank you so much for this wonderful tribute to our amazing women ❤️
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review