I Laugh So I Won't Cry: Kenya's Women Tell The Story Of Their Lives
Author:
Genres: History, Nonfiction
Book Type: Paperback
Author:
Genres: History, Nonfiction
Book Type: Paperback
Audrey S. (auddiemae) -
Halprin went to the source - the women themselves, and opened up discussion groups to get clear, honest answers to many questions facing women in Kenya, Africa.
Some questions are answered by individual women, but most as a group. She traveled throughout Kenya asking different social groups how they felt about everything from domestic violence to raising children. Many stories make you laugh; many bring tears to your eyes.
In some areas the men demanded to be present, so it is difficult to determine if the answers are what they would be without them. The questions hit on education, multiple wives, dowry's, marriage pratices and food source. There is one chapter on female circumcision, a practice banned in Kenya in the 1970's; however, it is still practiced by some groups.
One subject of interest is how women are allowed to marry women if they become widowed and have no sons. As a married couple, they attempt to find men to impregnate them so they can produce sons in order to save the land they were given by their husbands. If no son exists, the land goes to the husband's brothers, leaving the women completely homeless. But marriage to another women with sons, or women producing sons will save their land.
Religion with Islam, Christianity and tribal beliefs is also discussed. All in all, it is a well written, very informative piece of literature, well worth reading.
Some questions are answered by individual women, but most as a group. She traveled throughout Kenya asking different social groups how they felt about everything from domestic violence to raising children. Many stories make you laugh; many bring tears to your eyes.
In some areas the men demanded to be present, so it is difficult to determine if the answers are what they would be without them. The questions hit on education, multiple wives, dowry's, marriage pratices and food source. There is one chapter on female circumcision, a practice banned in Kenya in the 1970's; however, it is still practiced by some groups.
One subject of interest is how women are allowed to marry women if they become widowed and have no sons. As a married couple, they attempt to find men to impregnate them so they can produce sons in order to save the land they were given by their husbands. If no son exists, the land goes to the husband's brothers, leaving the women completely homeless. But marriage to another women with sons, or women producing sons will save their land.
Religion with Islam, Christianity and tribal beliefs is also discussed. All in all, it is a well written, very informative piece of literature, well worth reading.
