I Am Nujood

How does one recover after reading this book?  This book haunts me. I mean no disrespect to the tenants of Islam and the Muslim culture, but I have such a hard time finding any empathy for the adults (parents, neighbors, law makers) who allow this kind of sexual brutality to take place.

I do understand that a Western view of "a quality childhood" is radically different from other cultural expectations for a child/young adult.  In fact, I would agree with some of the criticism that Western cultures have promoted a view of child/adolescent development that inspires a perception of "learned helplessness" and we do our children a disservice because we do not expect them to take equal responsibility for themselves, their family, their community.

HOWEVER!  I cannot condone the practice of child-brides (or child-grooms, although I cannot name a culture that practices such a custom today) simply because a cultural norm is that children must "do their part" to support the family or be an "honorable woman."     I just cannot call this practice anything else other than abuse. Physical abuse.  Mental abuse.  Emotional abuse.

This being said I am amazed at Nujood's fortitude to break away from her husband and his family and go to the court and demand a divorce. 

This, of course, is why I must not remain paralyzed by reading this book.  I have to encourage others to read her story and to learn more about her. 

Speaking of which, I was curious to know what she is doing today so I googled her.  http://www.mytrendingtopics.info/nujood-ali-stories-as-the-youngest-bride/

Unfortunately, there isn't a lot of information about Nujood today.  It sounds as if she could be attending school, but it isn't clear since in this article it also says that the proceeds from the book stopped going to pay for her education because she was not attending...?  

I suppose I worry for her since she lives at home.  Even though the reports say that her family is living in a more upscale home and seem to be prospering, there is no updates on how Nujood herself sees the world -- what she now thinks of marriage, what her hopes and dreams are for herself and for her family.     And what about her older sister?  Or her brother?  Where are they?

Not that I want her to leave Yemen or abandon her family, but I just wonder if she is as happy (if not happier) now than she was before the whole thing happened.