Lila Abu-Lughod

Lila Abu-Lughod is the author of the book. The analysis and anecdotes contained in the book are based on her personal experiences as she lived with the Awlad 'Ali for nearly two years in 1978-1980. Abu-Lughod's father is Arab, and her mother American. She grew up in the United States and went to live with the Awlad 'Ali as part of her anthropological graduate studies.

The fact that Abu-Lughod is half Arab helps her to integrate more fully into Bedouin culture. With the introduction by her father, she is treated as an adopted daughter within the tribe. Because she is a woman, she gets firsthand accounts of nearly all aspects of the Awlad 'Ali society. A male anthropologist would be severely limited in the information he could obtain because he would not be permitted to access the female areas of the household. A woman has more freedom...