Writing

This book was a labour of love drawing on years of ethnographic fieldwork in Tunisia under Ben Ali's regime. During that time, I spent 6 months living with a local family in the suburbs of the city and 2 years spending time observing divorce cases in a family court.  I witnessed how marriages were made and how relationships sometimes fell apart and, with that, a great deal of sorrow and of joy. I am immensely grateful to all those who so generously shared their lives with me (and tolerated my attempts to communicate in Tunisian Arabic).

About the book

Tunisia has often been commended for its progressive stance on women’s rights and viewed as a role model for family law reform in the Muslim world.  Judging Women’s Rights, Gender & Citizenship in Ben Ali’s Tunisia weaves together intimate stories and theory to demystify claims that the progressive laws supported gender equality in practice.

Through the eyes of citizens and legal professionals, it reveals how women and men experienced their rights under Ben Ali’s repressive regime, tracing connections between gender, ethics and the law. It provides a vital backdrop for understanding contemporary debates in Tunisia where women’s rights remain a hotly contested topic.