Page 162 - A Woman Is No Man

the girls on television. More than once, she had overheard Sarah beg her
mother for trendier outfits, but Fareeda would always shout, “You’re not an
American!” as if Sarah had somehow forgotten.

“Well, don’t be so excited,” said Fareeda. Sarah shrugged. “You’re
fifteen now. Marriage is around the corner. You need to start preparing.”
“And what if I don’t want to get married?” Sarah’s angry voice was like
a gunshot in the room.
Fareeda glared at her. “Excuse me?”
Sarah turned off the faucet and met her mother’s eyes. “Why are you so
eager to marry me off?”

“I’m not asking you to get married tomorrow. We can wait until after
high school.”
“No.”
“What?”
“I don’t want to get married after high school.”
“What do you mean, you don’t want to get married? What else are you

going to do, you foolish girl?”
“I’m going to go to college.”
“College? Do you think your father and I will let you leave the house
alone so you can turn into an American?”
“It isn’t like that. Everyone goes to college here!”
“Oh, yeah? And what do you suppose everyone back home will think
when they find out our daughter is roaming the streets of New York alone?

Think of our reputation.”
“Reputation? Why don’t my brothers have to worry about our
reputation? No one prevents Omar and Ali from roaming the streets alone,
doing as they please. Baba had to practically beg Ali to go to college!”
“You can’t compare yourself to your brothers,” Fareeda said. “You’re
not a man.”

“That’s what you always say, but it’s not fair!”
“Fair or not, no girl of mine is going to college. Fahmeh?” She moved
closer, her open palm twitching. “Do you understand me?
Sarah took a step back. “Yes, Mama.”
“Instead of worrying about college, why don’t you learn a thing or two
about being a woman. You have your sisters-in-law here. Did any of them
go to college?”