Infertility and Patriarchy: The Cultural Politics of Gender and Family Life in Egypt / Edition 1

by Marcia C. Inhorn

Overview

Infertility and Patriarchy explores the lives of infertile women whose personal stories depict their daily struggles to resist disempowerment and stigmatization. Marcia C. Inhorn has produced a unique study of gender, politics, and family life in contemporary Egypt.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780812214246
Publisher:	University of Pennsylvania Press, Inc.
Publication date:	12/01/1995
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	312
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.80(d)

Editorial Reviews

"By exploring the consequences of childlessness, Inhorn offers important insights for demographers and others interested in understanding the desire for and meaning of children."

Studies in Family Planning

"An extremely impressive book. It not only contributes to our theoretical understanding of the interaction of class, patriarchy, culture, and reproduction but it has important policy implications for improving the lives of infertile Egyptian women. As research on gender in the Middle East proliferates, this work is a symbol of the wisdom of disaggregating our understanding of 'women.'"

International Journal of Middle East Studies

Based on extensive fieldwork, examines the consequences for modern Egyptian women of being barren. Shows that because of the importance to the man of fathering children, she may face emotional duress, self-doubt and alienation, ostracism and harassment by kin and neighbors, polygynous remarriage or divorce by the husband, and emotional or physical violence. Many of the women discussed suffer under the social stigma of being poor as well as female and childless. Paper edition (unseen), $16.95. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

"An extremely impressive book. It not only contributes to our theoretical understanding of the interaction of class, patriarchy, culture, and reproduction but it has important policy implications for improving the lives of infertile Egyptian women. As research on gender in the Middle East proliferates, this work is a symbol of the wisdom of disaggregating our understanding of 'women.'"—International Journal of Middle East Studies

"By exploring the consequences of childlessness, Inhorn offers important insights for demographers and others interested in understanding the desire for and meaning of children."—Studies in Family Planning

From the Publisher