Between Marriage and the Market: Intimate Politics and Survival in Cairo

Book Description

Homa Hoodfar's richly detailed ethnography provides a rare glimpse into the daily life of Arab Muslim families. Focusing on the impact of economic liberalization policies from 1983 to 1993, she shows the crucial role of the household in survival strategies among low-income Egyptians. Hoodfar, an Iranian Muslim by birth, presents research that undermines many of the stereotypes associated with traditional Muslim women. Their apparent conservatism, she says, is based on rational calculation of the costs and benefits of working within formal and informal labor markets to secure household power. She posits that increasing adherence to Islam and taking up the veil on the part of women has been partially motivated by women's desire to protect and promote their interests both within and beyond households.

Customer Reviews:

REALLY Excellent Book But Different From What I Had Expected.......2003-07-20

I ordered this book expecting it to talk about marriage practices in Egypt. While it touched on this, in less (or different depth) than I had expected, I really did get a lot more than I bargained for.

This book is exceptional, in that it is written by an Islamic (Iranian) woman sociologist, who had lived in, and gotten her degree in England. While she had to study Egyptian Arabic to converse with the people, she lived with them, and was able to understand many more facets of their culture in a different way than a westerner would have, and she was also more accepted and trusted by them because she was a Muslim (and her knowledge of Islam was extensively tested by her subjects in her early months of research). Yet, she is unlike most Arab sociologists in that she is able to write this book for a WESTERN audience, although the book is aimed more toward professional anthropologist/sociologists than the general public, as evidenced by her extensive citations and discussions of research methods. But in spite of that, I as a general reader, never found the book boring. It was difficult to put down. I was particularly interested in this subject, as I had spend several months living in Egypt during the time the author was doing her research, and compared my experiences to the author's. Her experiences and information are so much more extensive and rich.

The book basically covers every facet of how poor men and women are able to "make it" and "get by," especially when the majority of them are forced to work outside of the formal sector. I am an American who has lived and worked in Morocco for 12 years; I found that her book more fully explained much of the behavior I see here in Morocco among the poorer classes, even though the economic conditions (especially level of government subsidies) are not the same. The book shows the behavior of the poor to be very LOGICAL and WORKABLE solutions to their problems, within the frameworks they have to work in.

The book covered pre-marriage negotiations extensively, REALLY explaining the THINKING behind these negotiations. Again, even having lived in Morocco for 12 years, and even having married into the society, these things were never clear to me before, as they really are now.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is seriously trying to understand the THINKING of both men and women in Arabic cultures, and how that thinking, and the subsequent actions which follow from that thinking, is different from western cultures.

Lastly, this book presents a more POSITIVE view of Egyptians than I have EVER seen. Unfortunately, so many of the Egyptians that tourists, especially, come in contact with, tend to be such deceitful liars, leaving foreigners with a distasteful impression of all Egyptians. This book was really uplifting, positive, and refreshing, presenting so many honest, hard-working, caring people who constantly help each other out! I would have liked to meet many of these people myself. It really shows the Egyptians in a positive way.

Between Marriage and the Market.......2001-08-01

Continuing the excellent dissection of Cairene family life undertaken by several American-based scholars, Hoodfar focuses on poor women and how they cope with the tribulations of daily life. An anthropologist of Iranian origins teaching at Concordia University, the author spent a decade in Cairo doing research. She has much to show for her efforts. At base, she shows how much of a contract marriage is, and how this explains such patterns as the preference for husbands to be older than wives, the advantages of marrying within the family, a woman's need for parental approval of her husband, and the ridicule men face when they do housework ("men in the kitchen look like women").

Most striking, Hoodfar shows the way in which patterns are changing: how the Western ideal of a love marriage has an unsteady impact ("I married for love, but want my three daughters . . . to marry in the traditional arranged way"); the effect of waiting until later in life to marry; and the huge consequences of women being gainfully employed.

Hoodfar's perceptive study points to family life in Cairo becoming with time less Western, not more. For example, she finds that the immensely detailed marriage contracts now prevailing (which regulate everything from the wife's use of contraception to the number of meals with meat per week a husband can expect) "emerged only in the last few decades." This in turn suggests that, superficial signs of convergence to the contrary, the Middle East in its essence is not Westernizing.

Middle East Quarterly, December 1997

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Primer introducing institutional decisionmaking

Legislation: Statutory Interpretation : 20 Questions (Turning Point Series)
Kent Greenawalt
Manufacturer: Foundation Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Legislation and Statutory Interpretation, 2nd ed. (Concepts and Insights)

Legislation and Statutory Interpretation (Concepts and Insights Series)

Legislative Law and Process in a Nutshell

Cases And Materials On Legislation 2004: Statutes and the Creation of Public Policy (American Casebook)

Legal Methods: Understanding And Using Cases And Statutes (University Casebook)

ASIN: 1566627842

Book Description

The publication is an overview of the field of statutory interpretation.

Customer Reviews:

Primer introducing institutional decisionmaking.......2001-12-19

Greenawalt presents a very readable text that I recommend especially as a pre-law school read; offering breadth rather than depth covering the new legal process school superficially. Gives a good broad general forest view of the problems inherent in statutory interpretation, as seen in the current revival of textualism by Justice Scalia. Also discusses various notions of judicial restraint, the legislative process, sources of legislative history, the range of techniques of interpretation like Imaginative Reconstruction as espoused by Posner, Public Choice theory (Arrow's Theorem, manipulation of legislative history by both judges and legislature), democratic concepts of bicameralism clashing against authority usurping, use of textual and substantive canons, judicial deference to agency interpretation among other topics discussed.
I'd highly suggest further reading. The best thing about this book is it's short, concise view (it's a cutely-sized little book). It's easy to follow from no background knowledge. Upon finishing it, I'd recommend proceeding onto "Legislation and Statutory Interpretation" by Eskridge and Frickey and Garrett (Eskridge and Frickey are the authors of practical reasoning interpretation, dynamic statutory interpretation thru their conceptualized 'funnel of abstraction' of hierarchy of authority from concrete to most abstract along a funnel of web of beliefs).

Book Description

This book reflects the lectures, posters and workshops of the 7th Weurman Flavour Research Symposium held June 1993 in the Netherlands. The Weurman Symposia differ from most others in that attendance is only by invitation based on proposals for active participation. A uniform style and format have been maintained throughout the book as well as the usage of IUPAC chemical nomenclature. Under each topic the following items can be found: full papers and short contributions based on lectures read at the symposium, contributions based on the posters presented in the poster sessions and in some cases, a workshop report. The book is concluded with author and subject indexes aimed at improving the accessibility of this volume.

Product Description

This is a NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA report procured by the Pentagon and made available for public release. It has been reproduced in the best form available to the Pentagon. It is not spiral-bound, but rather assembled with Velobinding in a soft, white linen cover. The Storming Media report number is A307953. The abstract provided by the Pentagon follows: Acquisition of weapon systems for the Department of Defense is governed by the regulation DoD 5000.2R, "Mandatory Procedures for Major Defense Acquisition Programs (MDAPs) and Major Automated Information System (MAIS) acquisition Programs." During acquisition reform, this document was created as a simplified regulation to allow regulatory relief to acquisition project managers. It replaced two lengthy volumes providing requirements and guidance on acquisition procedures. The thesis analyzes the new regulation from a project process perspective. First, a requirements analysis is performed to identify project management requirements. Second, a functional analysis allocates these requirements to a timeline, creating a "Functional Architecture." The Functional Architecture provides the basis for evaluation of the DoD 5000.2R project management process. Finally, an evaluation is conducted from comparison with established communications models and management studies. Results of these analyses reveal over 3000 tasks are required of acquisition programs. This large number of requirements indicates extreme oversight of acquisition programs continues within acquisition reform. Recommendations are made for reevaluation of DoD policy on acquisition management and rewrite of DoD 5000.2R.

Computer aids to chemistry (Ellis Horwood series in chemical science)

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Computer aids to chemistry (Ellis Horwood series in chemical science)

Manufacturer: Distributed by Halsted Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The impact of computers on undergraduate chemical education

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The impact of computers on undergraduate chemical education
Sam J Castleberry
Manufacturer: Computer Microfilm International
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General & Reference | Chemistry | Science | Subjects | Books

Book Description

Geared toward advanced undergraduates and graduate students, this text systematically develops the concepts of electrical acceleration of gases for propulsion. Starting with primary physical principles and concluding with realistic space thruster designs, it surveys aspects of electricity, magnetism, and ionized gas mechanics underlying physical mechanisms of gas acceleration. 1968 edition.

Superconductor Technology: Applications to Microwave, Electro-Optics, Electrical Machines, and Propulsion Systems

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Superconductor Technology: Applications to Microwave, Electro-Optics, Electrical Machines, and Propulsion Systems
A. R. Jha
Manufacturer: Wiley-Interscience
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 047117775X

Book Description

Comprehensive coverage of theory and applications alike

Superconductor Technology integrates research efforts from around the world and provides the most comprehensive presentation of superconducting technology available. It covers high- and low-temperature superconductors (HTSC and LTSC) and, while the discussion centers on the more practical HTSC applications (those in the range of 77K), the advantages of LTSC technology in certain circumstances are also explored.

Author A. R. Jha examines the implementation of superconducting technology in every conceivable system or device, identifying applications and potential applications in diverse fields, including radio astronomical systems, laser radar, microwave and millimeter-wave missile receivers, satellite communication systems, high-resolution medical equipment, and many more. Complete with numerous illustrations and photographs and fully referenced, Superconductor Technology:

Covers theory and practice across a wide range of disciplines
Presents critical performance parameters for components, devices, and systems
Shows how to integrate HTSC and LTSC technology
Describes numerous hardware applications
Examines the forms and properties of superconductors
Provides the necessary mathematical expressions and derivations
Presents performance parameters and experimental data for real-world devices

Book Description

The three volumes VIII/3A, B, C of Energy Technology should primarily serve scientists, engineers, and students to get information on physical, chemical and technical properties of all technologies to provide, convert, distribute, store and finally use energy, supplemented with economic background information and with specific concepts to allow the reader a proper comparison of different energy technologies. In this way these volumes on energy technology should finally be helpful to let the human society pave and walk towards sufficient and environmentally safe provision and use of energy. The various contributions have been written by experts from many countries all around the globe engaged in universities, public research institutions and private industrial companies.

Characteristics of ions emitted fron high-current hollow cathodes (SuDoc NAS 1.26:195372)

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Characteristics of ions emitted fron high-current hollow cathodes (SuDoc NAS 1.26:195372)
Ikuya Kameyama
Manufacturer: National Aeronautics and Space Administration National Technical Information Service, distributor
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B00010M962

The diagnostics of the external plasma for the plasma rocket final report, NASA Graduate Student Researchers Program, Johnson Space Center, contract number--NGT9-5 (SuDoc NAS 1.26:206418)

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The diagnostics of the external plasma for the plasma rocket final report, NASA Graduate Student Researchers Program, Johnson Space Center, contract number--NGT9-5 (SuDoc NAS 1.26:206418)
Gerald R. Karr
Manufacturer: National Aeronautics and Space Administration National Technical Information Service, distributor
ProductGroup: Book
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ASIN: B00010YWHQ

Experimental demonstration of microwave signal/electric thruster plasma interaction effects (SuDoc NAS 1.26:207328)

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Experimental demonstration of microwave signal/electric thruster plasma interaction effects (SuDoc NAS 1.26:207328)
Afroz J. Zaman
Manufacturer: National Aeronautics and Space Administration National Technical Information Service, distributor
ProductGroup: Book
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ASIN: B0001116CE

Ion beam sputtering in electric propulsion facilities (SuDoc NAS 1.15:105145)

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Ion beam sputtering in electric propulsion facilities (SuDoc NAS 1.15:105145)
James S. Sovey
Manufacturer: National Aeronautics and Space Administration For sale by the National Technical Information Service
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B00010AKHM

Book Description

This anthology of stories, poems, and plays enables readers to discover their rich and diverse literary heritage and the power of literature to illuminate and enhance their lives. Integrates the classics with the best current writing, drawing timeless connections between subjects, emotions, and ideas in literary works throughout the ages. Juxtaposes similar works by authors of differing time, culture, and gender. Elicits reader response to classic and contemporary literary selections, engaging them as active participants in reading-and writing-about literature. Focuses on the relevance of criticism to the reader's response to literature. Provides writing guidelines, workshops, and model papers that serve as effective examples of how to work through the writing process. For readers who want to sharpen their critical thinking skills in order to read and write with keen perception about selections from both mainstream and culturally diverse authors.

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