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description: Farida Sultana's journey from a frustrated child and teenage bride to a proud and independent Muslim woman has been fraught with risk and danger. PURPLE DANDELION is a true story of courage and determination pointing the way to a different future for oppressed and abused women the world over.'An inspirational story of bravery and enterprise.' - Helen Clark Head of the United Nations Development ProgrammeFor many Muslim women life is a continual struggle to realise their true potential and assert their right to a peaceful life. It is a familiar experience to Farida Sultana. An unconventional child who struggled through her adulthood and married life surviving violence and abuse she has emerged as a strong advocate against all forms of violence and cultural and religious oppression against women.Her story begins in Bangladesh where she found herself in conflict with the traditional values of her family and the Islamic culture that prevents girls and women from learning music and the arts. Her arranged marriage to a doctor at the age of 18 took her to worn-torn Iran with her husband and young daughter then to the UK and finally to New Zealand. At each stage of her journey she attempts to describe her inner quest to find herself while also capturing the nuances sights and sounds of the events unfolding around her: in Bangladesh during its freedom struggle in Iran during the Iran-Iraq war in Britain as a single mother and a survivor of domestic violence and in New Zealand as an immigrant woman.Soon after her arrival in New Zealand Farida became aware that there were many more immigrant women like her who had to overcome domestic violence and the oppressive patriarchal societies they lived in. Their need drove her to initiate Shakti which set up the first immigrant womens refuge in the country. It has now grown into the largest immigrant womens organisations in New Zealand bringing together women and families of over 42 different ethnicities some of whose experiences and struggles are also described in this book.In recognition of her work Farida was awarded the Queens Service Medal for Community Service in 2003. In recent years she has been working in Asian and Middle Eastern countries encouraging women to condemn violence and claim their human rights.Farida Sultana has been working in the area of violence against women for over 17 years. She first became associated with Shakti AID UK as a survivor of violence and then as a volunteer. In 1995 she started Shakti in New Zealand. Farida is an advocate for various migrant and refugee issues works closely with the wider communities and also serves on various boards in New Zealand. She has one adult daughter.Shila Nair (co-author) qualified and worked as a journalist in India for 15 years before she migrated to New Zealand with her husband. She has since divorced and has requalified as a counsellor. Being a survivor of violence herself she is a passionate advocate for the cause of violence against women. She has been working with Shakti since 2002.Foreword by Helen Clark former New Zealand Prime Minister now Head of the United Nations Development Programme.
language: None
title: Purple Dandelion: A Muslim Woman's Struggle Against Violence and Oppression
publisher: None