Nonfiction Navigators discussion

She is a woman. Not only that, but she is educated. She wears pants. She knows how to drive. With each facet of her character comes another tick on the time bomb of her so-called freedom in the world of Saudi Arabia. She is one person, one face, one voice that pierces the silenced veil that masks every woman in her midst. In her non-fiction memoir In the Land of Invisible Women, Qanta A. Ahmed recounts her years as a female doctor in a terrifyingly male-dominated field.

Qanta grew up in England, was raised in the Muslim faith, but never practiced fervently. She yearned for knowledge despite her gender, and after receiving schooling at the University of Nottingham, she completed her medical education in New York. Denial of her U.S. visa prompted Qanta to make a hasty, life-altering decision: accept a position in Saudi Arabia, one of the most Muslim-dominated countries in the world.

From the very moment she boarded the plane to Riyadh, the startling traditions of Islam materialized with her every turn. Prayer, fasting, Hajj, veiling, and segregation were all commonplace in this uncharted territory that was now her home. While shopping for her abbayah, the traditional covering for women, Qanta officially resigned her New York State of mind, and admitted, “My social suicide had begun.”

As she stumbles through the rituals of Hajj, finds love, and discovers the inner-workings of Islam, she highlights the laws and regulations of Saudi Arabia. Without overwhelming the non-Muslim reader, she points to the reasons behind certain laws while simultaneously giving her own expert opinion.

Through her profound encounters with the Muttawa, religious police, and male colleagues, she unveils the oppressive reality of nearly every Saudi woman—showing tolerance for the intolerable. They are told on a daily basis that they are not allowed the same rights as Saudi men. They are not allowed to operate a vehicle, go anywhere alone, rent a hotel room, show even the slightest speck of skin, go on a date—the list goes on.

Amidst the cacophony of prohibited behaviors, Qanta discovers what she can do: practice medicine. Qanta uses her extensive intelligence and expertise to carefully draw readers into her world. I loved her use of vivid imagery, which brought every adventure and mishap to life. Although it is a lengthy read, I would highly recommend Qanta’s story; it is a work of art—an anthem for invisible women. With each anecdote comes a life lesson, and an undeniable truth that always draws back to this simple plea: women deserve freedom.