Wednesday, November 10, 2010
This Washington Post feature focuses on IWP participant Ghada Abdel Aal's new book "I Want to Get Married!: One Wannabe Bride's Misadventures with Handsome Houdinis, Technicolor Grooms, Morality Police, and Other Mr. Not Quite Rights" which inspired the Egyptian TV comedy show, "I Want to Get Married."

"The show...makes a simple point, but one that resounds strongly: Women want to be an active part of the process of finding a life partner, not passive objects whose fate is to be decided by their mothers, fathers or suitors..."

"How is it that someone comes to meet you in the salon, and then by the third visit you have to be ready to talk about the dowry, wedding jewelry and date for a wedding?" said Ghada Abdel-Aal, the author who inspired the sitcom with a blog and book by the same name, based largely on her own experiences. "And you as the girl are just expected to accept that this is your fate without even knowing who the person really is."

Read more >> In a TV comedy, Egyptian women gain a voice on marriage

Ghada Abdel Aal's participation at the IWP was provided courtesy of the U.S. Embassy in Cairo and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.