The Status of Women in Selected Novels by Nuruddin Farah

The work examines the status of women in Somalia as presented in the novels of Somali author Nuruddin Farah. Various topic areas, including clothing and appearance, education and job opportunities, marriage, childcare, official laws and traditions, but also the influence of religion, are investigated in close detail. Taking into account political developments, each topic is traced from the colonial days through Siyad Barre’s dictatorship and the civil war until the present radically Muslim rule. It can be seen that females have to face many obstacles unknown to males, but in spite of this, Farah generally describes women as self-confident and prepared to fight for equality and personal liberties. All in all, a positive development throughout time can be seen, however, Farah voices his worries concerning the attempts to establish a traditionally religionist state. In conclusion, sexual discrimination is widespread in Somalia, but Farah illustrates women’s ways to avoid obstacles or, if this is impossible, to cope with what they cannot change. He certainly describes the women in his books as strong and self-determined, and generally shows them in a very positive light.