Jean Sasson: Trailblazer for Female Empowerment

I first interviewed bestselling American author Jean Sasson as a bright eyed, bushy tailed postgrad student at Bournemouth University in 2007. The class assignment was to interview someone famous. Sitting in the tiny four corners of my dorm room, my mind went into overdrive thinking about who I wanted to cover. My favorite writer, Jean, came to mind immediately. Thanks to the already mature digital world, I managed to get in contact with Jean and couldn’t believe my luck when she responded and agreed to an interview. I was ecstatic. When we spoke, Jean was instantly likeable with her friendly Southern drawl. I made notes frantically as she opened her heart and mind on the other end of the phone. We spoke for an hour but frankly, I could’ve listened to her all day. Her knowledge of the Muslim world is immense having lived in Saudi Arabia for 12 years, and spending time in other Middle Eastern countries for the past 26 years.  Jean’s passion for women’s rights is limitless. She's even been on the Oprah Winfrey Show! Watch her in action.

Speaking to Jean literally takes one back to the pages of her books, her voice mirrored in the words that make for seamless and quick reading. I don’t think I have taken longer than three evenings to finish any one of her books, be it the bestselling Princess trilogy, Mayada: Daughter of Iraq, Growing up bin Laden, Love in a Torn Land or For the Love of a Son, to name some of my personal favorites. Though we first spoke a decade ago, we kept in touch and in 2010 I interviewed Jean again. Ten years on since our first conversation, I knew my new blog Around the World wouldn’t be complete without her, so here we are. Thank you Jean for being ever so gracious! Your work continues to inspire and empower women around the world …

You have been a relentless advocate of women’s rights for decades. How effective has your voice been in making a difference?

My work has not changed country laws but the difference has certainly come with individuals. Many thousands of readers have been inspired, going into careers that help people. I have seen women devoting their lives to helping the young, getting law degrees to work on women’s rights issues, or sharing their income with the poor. My work has influenced people for the better. These people can rise to political office one day and make a tangible difference. Some people of other cultures have expressed their opinions that I don’t have the right to interfere. Rape cases in Afghanistan and Pakistan for example tend to remain unaccountable with the blame placed on women. America has plenty of shame as well. The most dangerous time for women in my own country is when they are pregnant – the danger of being left or beaten by husbands who are not ready for fatherhood is prevalent. As far as my life, I’m very fortunate to have also personally known only kind, gentle men in my lifetime.  I’m not timid or shy so I have never been in relationships where men felt they could rule. When I was married to Peter Sasson, his male friends were surprised that he had no say-so when it came to my travels.  In fact, I often traveled to Thailand alone.  I went there to research the sex slave industry where girls as young as eight were sold as sex slaves. But I have experienced some shocking incidents, for example, when I was in Taiwan and Egypt I experienced men knocking on my hotel door assuming a woman on her own needed company.

What stereotypes and expectations have you faced in your life as a free woman?

People have been surprised that Peter and I chose not to have children. I always knew that I would have a career that would interfere with a normal family life. Also, I was the daughter who assumed care of my ageing parents.  My friends in the Eastern world were shocked. Even my friends from the Western world lectured about becoming old without kids. To this day I am asked if I regret not having children. I have experienced other women considering this to be a bigger issue than men. It’s been a shock for me as I always support women and expect them to support me. Some women are generous minded but others don’t want you to be too successful. Some women have been offended by my proactive stance on animals. When I see an abandoned or mistreated animal it’s not just my business but it’s my obligation to help. I can’t see a live being in pain, no matter if it is a man or a woman, although men don’t face the same difficulties as women. It distresses me greatly to see suffering in the world.

You have been fearless as the voice of the powerless, be it women suppressed under certain regimes or animals stranded by their owners. What makes you fearless?

I have never known fear of another person. I inherited this trait from my father. He lost his mother when he was 12. This was forever sadness for him. My aunt, his older sister, said he always worked.  Growing up, there was a creek near his house where everyone would go in for a swim. He would charge them a nickel to use a towel. I truly am fearless when it comes to other people and can honestly say that I’m not afraid to put my life on the line. When I gave the late Mayada advice, she shook her head and said “Jean, we’re all mice” in comparison. When I arrived in Baghdad, I refused to accept a male translator as I knew women wouldn’t dare to speak in the presence of a man. I have taken endangered routes through desserts. In 1998, I was invited to meet Osama bin Laden by a Saudi citizen living in London who knew him.  This was before the world knew who he was at the time of embassy bombings in Africa. I was unable to accept the invitation, and have lived to regret it, of course.  So I cannot say exactly why I am immune to fear, but I am glad that I am as it makes it easy for me to travel to dangerous places and get to know what is happening to others first-hand.

Though Growing up Bin Laden received a lot of attention [Jean appeared on Al Jazeerah], the Princess trilogy resonates the most years after it was first published. What makes it so special?

Both Princess and Mayada had women fighting against overwhelming odds, never giving up. The Princess risked her life to help other women, and to bring change to her  country, Saudi Arabia. Mayada was fighting for her beloved Iraq, and for her children. Both had valid, strong reasons to take risks. We love to see a champion. Human life is so interesting. When we hear stories of women we can’t help but be pulled towards them. Watch Jean on Al Jazeera.

Malala’s was a very powerful story. Do you think you might cover Pakistan one day?

I am covering Pakistan in a book that I plan to write over the next year.  I don’t like to talk about the specifics of any book project prior to completion, but my history of writing makes it clear that I will focus on the subject of women in Pakistan, and challenges that some women there face.

The evolution of digital has transformed the world. What is the future of novel writing?

Reading is a good, sensuous pleasure. I myself have read a total of two digital books as I am in love with the printed book. Yet, not everyone is like me, thank goodness.  In fact, today my digital sales exceed my book sales and this will only continue. I have a huge collection of 10,000 books, with many of those books on the Middle East and other travel books. I considered giving my collection to a library so that they might have a Jean Sasson room. Libraries didn’t agree to safeguard my books, telling me that they could not guarantee that they would not sell my books!  They wouldn’t keep them. Winston Churchill loved books and famously said “If you cannot read all your books...fondle them---peer into them, let them fall open where they will, read from the first sentence that arrests the eye, set them back on the shelves with your own hands, arrange them on your own plan so that you at least know where they are. Let them be your friends; let them, at any rate, be your acquaintances.” I love to dust my books though my nieces or nephew end up finishing the job as more often than not I’ll end up curled up on the floor with a book I’ve rediscovered. Moving forward I think that digital books will rule with only a few print book collectors in the world.

Which of your books didn’t do as expected and which exceeded expectations?

Growing up bin Laden didn’t do as expected.  I was surprised as no other books covered the subject in such a personal manner.  No one knew Osama better than his first wife and his son, Omar.  But, a movement had affected the world, bringing people to misinterpret the book. The title may have led them to believe it was frivolous. Critics tried to harm it, though writer Peter Bergen gave it positive review. As for the rest of my books, they all did really well. I wouldn’t write them if I didn’t find them compelling.

[Thinking of Hilary Clinton] Why aren’t women breaking the glass ceiling today?

Social change comes so slowly. Women are a part of the problem. Women too often treat their sons better than their daughters. My nephew is nineteen and is an example of what a young man should be. He doesn’t try to control his girlfriend or any people around him, actually. Changing the fabric of social life doesn’t come overnight. Think about how long it took women to get the vote. My mother allowed my father to make most decisions even though she was seething underneath. Even a great military and policeman who uses violence in the workplace can let it filter out at home.

What’s next?

I will write the book on Pakistani women, and I will also write my memoir.  It’s time.  I have put off writing my own story for years as I always came across another story I felt was more important and interesting than my own.  But, as said, it is time to write my own memoirs as I still have my full memory intact. 

What’s a typical day in the life of Jean Sasson?

There’s never a dull moment in the life of someone who cares and becomes involved with causes. It’s gift of God to have the intensity of empathy. It’s not happening to someone else, it’s happening to me. I’m feeling it exactly. I have to get involved. My friends say it’s a curse. My life is actually completely chaotic. I take care of living things but my house a mess. My idea of a good time is doing something that makes a difference. I’m a serious person and don’t think I’ve ever done anything frivolous in my life. Even something like playing games on my computer never entered my mind [Spoken like a true bookworm].

Follow Jean on Facebook @AuthorJeanSasson and Twitter @JeanSasson. 
You can keep up to date with her latest work on www.jeansasson.com.