Abd Ali, like many of her female colleagues, considers the presence of women in bookselling — a role that has been reserved traditionally for men — a defiance of the traditions and norms that have long contributed to the isolation of women and banning them from being active members of society and taking up employment.
“When a woman runs her own bookshop or holds another job, she proves her presence in society and changes the stereotypes that demand her to be invisible," Abd Ali noted.
In Sulaimaniyah, Iraqi Kurdistan, Rengin Jamal, 24, realized her dream in August when she opened a cafe where customers can read and buy books. In Erbil, the Iraqi Kurdish capital, a group of women opened in May the Book Cafe, which is a coffee shop, bookshop and library, all under one roof.
In Babylon, a city located along the banks of the Euphrates River, Atyaf Qays opened Ward (Flowers) bookshop in August. Her bookstore focuses on women as she considers them the “seeds” for a positive future of Iraqi society. She stocks books that may interest female readers and organizes meetings and conferences for women.
Qays faced many challenges in the run-up to launching her business. “Some people accepted my idea of selling books while others did not. However, I’m trying to win over everyone and those who object will not deter me from my goal,” Qays told Al-Monitor, citing instances of harassment and discrimination. ”It is as important to fight against ignorance as fighting against IS,” she said.
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