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Mona Eltahawy talks to Laura Bates

Headscarves and Hymens: Why the Middle East Needs a Sexual Revolution

Hay Festival 2015, 

The campaigner and commentator explains that since the Arab Spring began, women in the Arab world have had two revolutions to undertake: one fought with men against oppressive regimes, and another fought against an entire political and economic system that treats women as second-class. Her illuminating and incendiary book is a plea for outrage and action on women’s behalf, confronting the ‘toxic mix of culture and religion that few seem willing or able to disentangle lest they blaspheme or offend.’