Fatima SadiqiWomen in the Middle East and North Africa: Agents of Change (UCLA Center for Middle East Development (CMED) series)

While I'm sure the content of the book is satisfactory, the (brand new) copy I received has 20 pages streaked in printer ink. I'm dissatisfied with the quality of this book - this copy is not worth the 40+ dollars I spent on it. I'm also confused as to why Amazon would allow a product of poor quality to be shipped from their warehouse.

I think that this is a very good reference for those who are running a research on women in the Middle East and North Africa or who just want to truelly know from the locals themselves the status of women in these countries, as opposed to what could be portrayed by the media or outsiders. The book is well structured and is easy to read and understand. The only set back I have on it is that I can feel a real struggle of the authors of the varios papers in their attempt to prove to the Western World the point that women in the ME and NA are indeed agents for change and have gained their rights in many areas. In some parts of the book I thought the language was unnecessarily very defensive to the degree that I thought the author went too much out of her own way as an Arab and/or African woman just to prove the point. I would have kept my own identity and still ensure that the other side accepts me as I am just like I would accept them as they are.