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The Harem a woman’s perspective
To Westerners the concept of the harem is misunderstood at the least. ... These ideas have lingered in our minds due to the secrecy which has always surrounded the imperial harem. ... Even the distinction between a domestic harem and an imperial harem is not usually recognized by Westerners. In order to truly understand the tradition of the harem one must not only understand the institution and its rules, but more importantly how it works from within. ...
An excellent way of approaching the concept of a harem with an open mind is to read the memoirs and first hand accounts of women’s lives who have insight into the mysterious harem. First of all the very meaning of the harem is borrowed from the Arabic term haram which means that which is unlawful. ... The harem in terms of everyday Muslim life refers to that portion of a Muslim house occupied by the women that serves as their sanctuary. ... The harem remained well guarded and sultans often employed slaves and eunuchs to care for and protect the women.
The definition of such an imperial harem seems to be more clear cut and understandable to non-Muslims, but is it the domestic harem that is more popular and still exists in some places today. The domestic harem exists as a way to maintain the tradition of living with an extended family rather than breaking up into nuclear units, in addition to keeping the tradition of secluding women. The fact that the domestic harem exists in more modern times, when women’s movements have become more prominent complicates matters. By reading first hand accounts written by women who have had vastly different experiences being born and living in a harem, we can attain a better understanding of the strife and happiness that a girl or woman in such a situation experiences.
Fatima Mernissi writes a beautiful account of her childhood living in a harem. Her book Dreams of Trespass, tells an intriguing story of a confused little girl growing up in a harem in Fez, Morocco. The naivety of her story gives us wonderful insight not only into her life but the lives of other family members, specifically her male cousin Samir, and the other women who shared the confines of the harem. As Westerners we can relate to her childlike limited understanding of the purpose and rules of the harem. She repeatedly has arguments with her favorite male cousin and playmate Samir about what a harem is. ... Chama (an older female cousin) tells them whimsical stories about how a harem came about.
Approximate Word count = 2136
Approximate Pages = 8.5
(250 words per page double spaced)
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