Barefoot in Baghdad: A Story of Identity-My Own and What It Means to Be a Woman in Chaos
An American aid worker of Palestinian descent, Omar left an anxious family and a job at the World Bank in the Washington, D.C. area, for Baghdad in 2003 in order to help Iraqi women navigate the post-invasion turmoil in her new position at Women for Women International. Her book chronicles her experiences in war-torn Iraq, detailing the curtailed options facing many Iraqi women and the increasing dangers facing aid workers. Omar also outlines the tension between American troops and nongovernmental organizations, highlighting the risks involved in turning to the army for help. In the midst of the chaos, Omar forges life-long friendships and benefits from the generosity of the Iraqi people. As the country tilts perilously close to chaos, Omar is forced to evacuate briefly, an experience that brings home all that her life in Iraq means to her. Omar provides a rare glimpse into facets of Iraqi life not often described in American newspapers and magazines as she describes not only the dangers but also the joys, small and great. --Katherine Boyle