Kurdish Women's Stories

by Houzan Mahmoud (Editor)

'A fascinating, inspiring journey' - Meredith Tax, author of A Road Unforeseen

Kurdistan has had a tumultuous history, and the women who lived there have experienced life like no other. From Saddam Hussein's reign of terror beginning in the 1960s, to the fight against ISIS today, violence, revolution, and questions around identity, agency, survival, and resistance have been at the forefront of women's lives for decades.

This book is a collection of these women's stories written in their own words. Each story reveals a tapestry of experiences, including political activism under Saddam and armed resistance in Rojava's PKK and YPG and Komala in Rojhalat. This is in addition to experiences of FGM and overcoming victimhood, life under extreme conservatism, as well as a look into the work of artists, poets, novelists, and performers whose work represents a complicated relationship with Kurdistan.

These rich and nuanced insights come from a group of women from a nation without a state, who are now scattered across the world. Collectively, they take the reader on a journey that will inspire feminist, anti-fascist, and anti-racist people across the world.

Genres: Nonfiction, Feminism, Memoir, Short Stories, Politics, Iran, History

224 pages, Paperback

Published January 20, 2021

Reviews

[Amargî · Rating 4 out of 5]

According to the author, the book spans 5 generations and starts with the oldest woman and ends with the youngest.

All of these stories were very interesting and such a concept was long overdue.

Kurdish women are the backbone of Kurdish society and nobody can convince me of anything else.

However, I have to say that I would actually have rated this book 3 stars.
It‘s mostly due to the lack of diversity.

25 women are telling us about their experiences as Kurdish women.
- 15 of them are Bashuris (South Kurdistan, Iraqi occupied)
- 5 of them are Rojhelatis (East Kurdistan, Iranian occupied)
- 3 of them are Rojavayis (West Kurdistan, Syrian occupied)
- And 2 of them are Bakuris (North Kurdistan, Turkish occupied)

The author noted that she had a hard time contacting other than Bashuri women, but I can‘t imagine that only two Bakuri women reached out to tell their stories.

I was happy to see that one of the women is an Alevi from Dersim, I was kinda „Meeeh“ when I read that she‘s from a family that doesn‘t consider themselves Kurdish but „Zaza“ -
But these stories are valid, and Kurds that grow up in these kind of families mostly have a hard time getting in touch with their Kurdish identity, since the rest of the family denies it.
I was happy to read that she got in touch with her Kurdish identity and was even politically active in Turkey.

Us Alevis still face a LOT of prejudices, even by Muslim Kurds, and only seeing one Alevi voice kind of disappointed me.

Another thing that kinda bugged me was the zero Yazidi voice.
I know there are tensions between Yazidis and Kurds, many Yazidis don‘t consider themselves Kurdish and they are 100% valid if they don‘t identify as Kurds, we are not in the position to tell them what they should identify as, there are plenty of reasons.
However there ARE Yazidis, who identify as Kurds and their voices are also valid and should‘ve been in that book

Also there is zero LGBTQ+ voices, Kurdish LGBTQ+ folx exist and their voices are also valid.

If there‘ll ever be a second volume of Kurdish Women‘s Stories: I‘ d be happy to read more Alevi voices, but also Yazidi and LGBTQ+ voices - We are a marginalized group, but some of us are more marginalized than others and especially their voices need to be amplified

[Sarya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly don’t have words. This book took me so long to read because every time I picked it up, I felt dread and sadness due to how intense the stories of these women are (some are so graphic). As a Kurd, this just hit 10000 times harder than I expected. As in, I cried like 10 times. Such a beautiful collection of stories. Herbijî!

[Virginia Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wowowow. I bought this book a couple years ago and referenced some of the short memoirs within in a paper I wrote on Kurdish women's roles in the revolution and in Rojava, but this was my first time reading it cover to cover. The stories these women, from a vast array of generations and experiences, are all deeply intimate and speak to the struggles of the Kurds, and of Kurdish women in particular. I am blown away by their stories, their revolutionary actions, and the hope so many portray despite a long history of ethnic and gender based violence.

[Yesenia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I meant to space this out and read one story after work every day. Nope. I kept turning pages and finished it in one night, it was that good. Shahla Yarhussein's story about her engagement photos in particular really struck a chord.

[hawin :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

the stories these women have shared, brought me a bit closer to my kurdish identity, in the sense that they provoked me to think about it more + i really liked the fact that its a diverse group of women writers (i have to note though that the lack of writers from north kurdistan was in fact a little disappointing since thats also where i am from)

houzan mahmoud saying shes not a feminist by the end took me by surprise, i'd love to read the details of that since it seems impossible

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kurdish women have endured immense suffering throughout history, and their struggles continue today. I especially admired the stories of the courageous women from the 1960s.

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5

[Venus Mansourian Fard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Impressive and informative.
The individual stories of these brave kurdish women give an authentic, personal and very rare perspective into the kurdish conflict conveyed through literature. It brought tears into my eyes to read what they have endured and what many more women still have to endure by this day.
A lot of the story tellers are in pain for generations and generations and still put in shatters. In solidarity with these woke women and their resilient fight.

[Madison Y. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! I, as other reviewers have noted, do wish there had been more geographic diversity represented. Some stories were more gripping than others. However, these stories of resistance, resilience, and strength were touching & fortifying. More people need to be reading about and appreciating Kurdish liberation struggles & culture, and I’m so glad this book offers a window into that experience for English speaking readers.

[Fadilla Dwianti Putri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this book left me feeling enraged, heartbroken, and deeply moved—and it will do the same to you. How can the world be so harsh and unjust, especially toward women?

Kurdish Women’s Stories features 25 personal essays from Kurdish women across Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western Kurdistan (Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Syria). You might wonder: why has Kurdistan never become its own nation? The answer lies in a long and painful history marked by bloodshed, torture, and abduction. Through the fragmented lives of these 25 women, the book pieces together a history that helps us understand how conflict, displacement, and war have devastated millions of families. These hardships have made women even more vulnerable, yet we also witness their incredible resilience and determination.

This book shows us that, despite the overwhelming adversity, women have the strength to fight, to bring about change, and to survive.

[C‘ · Rating 4 out of 5]

it’s a collection that brings to light the voices of kurdish women often silenced and overlooked through personal narratives. each story shows the courage of these women as they face political turmoil cultural constraints and genderbased violence. from the horrors of war and displacement to the daily struggles for identity and education their experiences are both heartbreaking and inspiring. this is more than a collection of stories - it’s an act of defiance against invisibility. this book perfectly presents these women’s powerful voices

[Bridget Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up in London based on reading the first page and I’m so glad I did. the selected stories were from mothers, daughters, wives, political prisoners and freedom fighters all fighting against tyranny that has affected their safety and culture for generations. the bravery and resilience of these women is something that is completely incomprehensible and unfamiliar to me. I did hope to read a story from a Yazidi woman (though I know not all Yazidis identify as Kurdish) and the brief mention of ISIS’s attack on Sinjar in 2014 left me a little disappointed.

[Azya Edris · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is lack of Kurdish knowledge and representation of Kurdish history in the media, these collected short stories are very informative. After having the chance to speak with the author it only made me appreciate the effort that was taken to put together this book, with the hard work of translating and putting stories into writing from multiple different people who speak different dialects.

The hard work put into this book is very evident!

[Stefanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am very happy this book exists, I learned a lot reading it and was often heartbroken.
As the editor says, there is an overrepresentation of women from South Kurdistan, but I was surprised to not find any story of Queer kurdish women.
I also would have liked just a few more annotations for people who don't know the political situation of the different parts of Kurdistan that well but obviously this can also be done by consulting other sources.

[kuludle · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a Kurdish woman I loved this book, I think it’s important book to read as a Kurdish woman and to support the concept. However as another reviewer said there wasn’t much diversity, many of the women were from southern and eastern Kurdistan. But still a very interesting book that had me emotonal several times.

[Tajan Ab · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Kurdish Women's Stories was an emotional journey that left me in tears. Hearing voices from women born in the same city I haven’t seen in so long was deeply personal and unforgettable. This collection captures the pain, resilience, and strength of Kurdish women like no other. I finished the book in just a couple of days because I couldn't put it down. It's my 2024 treasure.

[Nadjma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very important stories of a group of people who are often not given a voice. I initially liked how the author stayed true to the voice of the women, but unfortunately in many places it made the paragraphs chunky and repetitive.

[Pe · Rating 5 out of 5]

devastating

[Firoozeh Daraei · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rich, powerful and honestly great to read stories of Kurdish women by Kurdish women.

[Irina · Rating 5 out of 5]

as a young woman this book really really touches my heart. It shows that womanhood will always be and stay strong, no matter what.

[lara arif · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of those books that is difficult to put down, perhaps biast as a kurdish woman born in the UK. This book taught me so much.

[Nil · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and all the different aspects of being a Kurdish women. I hope there will be a Part two with more women from different areas. And i totally understand that it was not possible to do that with no budget at hand for this one.

[Ezz]

As much as I'm drawn to reading political books, I find it incredibly difficult to review them. The turmoil people endure for generations just because they're born in a certain part of the world is horrific. Their ethnicity, gender and religion are all factors which exacerbate their suffering. Almost all of these people are not the first to experience oppression in their family, and won't certainly be the last.

Kurdish Women's Stories is made up of 25 essays written by Kurdish women. They cover various subjects from Saddam's evil regime where he attacked a Kurdish village with mustard gas and caused the murder of 5000 people, Turkey bombing the Kurds while they were fighting ISIS, Iran's revolution which forced religion on people (especially women) and female genital mutilation (not limited to these topics).

Kurdish people have suffered in all four regions they live in Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria. In almost all of their essays, there is mention of losing a member of the family for political reasons. The Kurdish people are fighters, they're extremely politically active and their struggle against ethnic cleansing continues till today.

Despite their suffering, there is a real thirst for life and freedom. All of the women talk about their proud Kurdish heritage and their will to continue their fight for existence.

[Rawan · Rating 3 out of 5]

most of the stories come from a very specific point of view -- so interesting, but also biased (and often, very basic and high level)