Hshouma

A feminist graphic novel based on the author's experiences of sexuality in Morocco.

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‘In my country, Morocco, it’s hshouma (shameful) to discuss certain subjects, notably sexuality and the body, and even more so to want to experience these things. To understand what we’re going through, I suggest that together we look at the reign of hshouma in its educational, religious and political dimensions. To break these taboos, I hereby testify to my life as a young Moroccan woman…’

The women Zainab Fasiki draws are compelling and real – whether naked, wearing the veil, in lingerie, in town or in the public baths. They celebrate the human form and its beauty, mocking a hypocritical masculinity that is afraid of bodies, and challenging one of the pillars on which patriarchal societies rest – whether in North Africa or in Western countries. Part artistic project, part educational initiative, but also playful and humorous, this graphic novel breaks down the taboos associated with sex education and gender identity and exposes everyday misogyny. Hshouma is an important book, and Fasiki is a powerful new voice of international feminism. ---

‘Aims to break taboos in Morocco, in particular to change the way women and their bodies are perceived in society.’ – UN WOMEN