A US Feminist in Saudi Arabia: 1980-1982

The book chronicles the experiences of a single American woman teaching at a university in Saudi Arabia between 1980 and 1982, during a pivotal period when the Islamic world was retreating from earlier advances in women’s rights. The relative freedoms women had gained in the 1970s were sharply reversed following the attempted takeover of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, an event that intensified fear among the ruling authorities and led to stricter social controls. Through the author’s firsthand account, readers are immersed in daily life during this transformative era, while the epilogue brings the story forward, offering perspective on how Saudi Arabia has evolved up to the present day.