I Am Nujood Age 10 And Divorced Summary

I am Nujood Age 10 and Divorced is a memoir that was published in the English translation in 2010. The events described in the occurred in 2008. Nine year old Nujood was forced into marriage by her father to a man three times her age. Her Yemen cultural agrees with these marriage traditions. Consequently, Nujood suffers from rape and physical abuse by her husband. Months go by and she begs her family to take her back and undo her marriage. Her family rejects her pleas. She decides to go to the court house in the city and ask for a divorce. She tells her story to the judges and they decide to help her. Along with the help of Shada a woman’s rights lawyer she succeeds in obtaining divorce. Nujood possess strong character strength’s that help

The book describes the family Nujood is entrusted with when she decides to go to court. That family has more money therefore the women seem to have more privileges. Compared to Nujood, the girls are allowed to play with toys, attend school, and they are not being forced to marry. Attending school is another privilege that people with money enjoy. Nujood was told to quit school because her father didn’t see it as necessary for her to go. On the other hand her brothers were allowed to attend. However, due to the fact that they were poor the boys quit to beg on the streets. One form of oppression Nujood faced was the policies of Yemen. These policies seemed to be created to fit their religion, traditions, and Male domination. The community supports the laws of their country. Hence, no speaks out to make changes letting the cycle continue. The community also supports social regulations among themselves. For example girls along with their families are shunned for having relations out of wedlock. For example, Nujood’s older sister Mona, had ran away with one of the village boys. The family was faced with hostility from the others, and were forced to leave everything they owned and move to the

I agree that everyone has a right to practice their beliefs. At the same time, I am biased on how their communities and lifestyles are narrowed to fit their religion. They are based on out dated ideas. In my opinion there are certain entities whether religious or political, that need to be updated to fit the current time we are living. It is horrific the lifestyles these women and children are forced to live. They are oppressed by their families, communities, and government. Their own religion oppresses them too. Religion is supposed to give you a safety net, faith, and hope; not make it harder on you as a human being. Social welfare laws on views of preserving children and their childhoods, and feminine right’s need to be advocated. There needs to be a law for a rational age to consent to marry. These communities need to be educated on ethical family practices, and have general education available for them. These two ideas would help sway how they see their families, communities, and policies. More women’s rights and children’s rights need to be in place. Permanent advocacy groups would produce long term change in this