Yalla Feminists:
Arab Rights and Resistance
co-authored with Rebecca O’Keeffe
The Arab region is challenged by women’s rights and equality remains elusive. Women face traditional patriarchal cultures, protracted crises, lack of religious freedom, discriminatory legal frameworks, chronic insecurity—and a massive backlash against their rights and fundamental freedoms.
And yet, there is hope. Feminists, particularly young feminists, fight tirelessly for their rights and are leading movements around the region pushing for change. This book looks at the last 50 years of Arab feminism to understand what the next 50 years will hold.
The revolution continues—Yalla!
Freedom on the Frontlines: Afghan Women and the Fallacy of Liberation
In 2001, Afghanistan took center stage globally, with a focus on "liberating" Afghan women. The intricate connection between women, politics, and the state in Afghanistan has fueled conflicts for decades.
Fast forward to late 2021, Afghanistan has fallen to the Taliban again, marking a seemingly full circle. Afghan women's rights have been revoked, and any fragile gains appear lost. The nation is in a dire humanitarian and human rights crisis.
This book amplifies the voices of hundreds of Afghan women and men from 2001 to 2021. Regardless of external perceptions, the true gauge of progress or liberation lies in the voices of the Afghan people.
Gender and International Aid in Afghanistan:
The Politics and Effects of Intervention
Following four years in Afghanistan, I was compelled to write about what was going on with women in the country. Were we “liberating” women, as we claimed? Did the promise of freedom fall short? Did our rhetoric match reality?
This book explains how international aid interventions understood and acted on women’s rights in the country. It is built from the voices of hundreds of policymakers and implementers on the frontlines, as well as Afghan leaders and experts, and most importantly Afghan women and men.